TNAG-1876-FCO40-2667-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1989 — Page 53

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3688

OF 06120OZ NOVEMBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO

HKB

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COPY Q Disi ?

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, CANBERRA

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147635

MDHIAN 3128

MY MEETING WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER NAKAYAMA: 4 NOVEMBER

TEXT OF THE JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER MY MEETING WITH

ΝΑΚΑΥΑΜΑ IS AS FOLLOWS :

1. THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, DR TARO NAKAYAMA, VISITED HONG KONG ON 3-4 NOVEMBER. ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON HE VISITED A VIETNAMESE

DETENTION CENTRE. ON SATURDAY HE HELD VALUABLE AND PRODUCTIVE TALKS

WITH THE GOVERNOR ON A RANGE OF ISSUES.

2. FOREIGN MINISTER NAKAYAMA REITERATED JAPAN'S CONFIDENCE IN HONG

KONG AND SUPPORT FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. HE COMMENTED THAT THE JAPANESE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS ALSO CONFIDENT ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE. THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY.

HE EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE BURDEN PLACED UPON HONG KONG BY THE ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM, AND RECONFIRMED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FULL AND BALANCED IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION ADOPTED IN GENEVA IN JUNE THIS YEAR. HE SAID THAT JAPAN WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO ASSISTING UNHCR WITH THE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO RECONFIRMED JAPAN'S SUPPORT FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC ECONOMIC FORUM.

3. THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED WITH APPRECIATION THE CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF JAPANESE BUSINESS INTEREST IN HONG KONG. HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONSIDERING MEASURES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR JAPANESE TO COME AND WORK IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE TIME TAKEN TO PROCESS EMPLOYMENT VISAS.

THE GOVERNOR OUTLINED HONG KONG'S PLANS FOR A NEW AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT.

HE ALSO THANKED THE FOREIGN MINISTER FOR THE MAJOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WERE MAKING TOWARDS UNHCR FOR THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.

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