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Conclusion
10. The overall assessment, perhaps unsurprisingly, is that the confidence which Japanese firms show in Hong Kong will depend upon the confidence of Hong Kong business itself. If things go well, Japanese business will help to keep Hong Kong thriving; if things go badly, they will not be the last to leave. On the political side, we have already begun to spread the message at high level here that the Japanese have a major interest in Hong Kong's continued prosperity and that there is more they could be doing to achieve it. This is not the place for detailed policy recommendations, but we think there are a number of areas to follow up: -
Identifying specific steps which the Japanese could take to show confidence in Hong Kong, eg Ministerial visits. We understand that some work is going ahead in Hong Kong on this, and welcome it.
Lobbying accordingly on issues such as early air separation talks or an invitation to the APEF in November, where the Japanese imagine, rightly or wrongly, that there could be a problem with the PRC.
Continuing to spread our general message to Ministers, senior officials, businessmen and the press. We shall ourselves continue to do that. We hope that the Prime Minister will do so too during her visit in September.
next year.
Trying to create a stronger pro-Hong Kong lobby in Japan. This is doubtless something which the Hong Kong government is already thinking about. We should welcome a visit by the Governor, when he feels able to get away perhaps in the late autumn or early
Whereas recent visits by the Governor and his predecessor have had an economic/trade bias, the next might be the occasion to try to deepen political contacts and dialogue at senior level with various parts of the Japanese government, and to use speeches and the media to build up realisation of the extent of Japan's interests in Hong Kong and the need for more action to protect them. Separate from the Governor's visit, the Diet and press are worthwhile targets for any general effort to develop sympathy for Hong Kong here.
Your
ever
Szépen Gomersal
S J Gomersall
Counsellor (Economic)
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