TNAG-1872-FCO40-2660-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 61

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implementation of the Joint Declaration and preservation

of autonomy.

3.

I thanked Satoh. I agreed that in general Foreign

Minister Qian's remarks were encouraging. We had been a bit

puzzled by his assertion that there was a net outflow of

capital from Hong Kong. In fact we had not got any sure way

of checking on this but we doubted if it was the case.

4.

Satoh concluded, mentioning that the Japanese Chamber

of Commerce in Hong Kong had met members of the House of Commons

Foreign Affairs Committee visiting Hong Kong, on 20 April.

They had expressed general confidence in the future of

Hong Kong. Satoh said that the head of the Chamber of Commerce

had told the MPs that he, Satoh, was asking visiting

Japanese to express to the Chinese their confidence in Hong Kong.

Satoh stressed that he had not asked the Chamber of Commerce to

say anything about this but he did not think it would have done

too much harm.

c.c.

Dr JE Hoare, BE Peking

Chancery, BE Tokyo

CT Wood Esq, HKD, F CO

S(GD)

SCA

Бир

(R D Clift)

Political Adviser

21.4.1989