TNAG-2207-FCO40-3164-Multiple-entry-visa-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1990 — Page 15

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 674

OF 28150OZ MARCH 90

INFO PRIORITY TOKYO

Ако

34511

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

DESI INDEX

1 8 APR 1990

FICER

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

YOUR TELNO 921: HONG KONG/JAPAN MULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS

i

133470 MDLOAN 0273

1. WE HAVE AGAIN CONFIRMED TO THE JAPANESE EMBASSY (MIZUTANI) THAT WE ARE CONTENT FOR HONG KONG TO BE THE MAIN CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION ON THIS ISSUE.

2.

WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD PUT THE POINTS IN TUR TO THE JAPANESE COUNSULATE-GENERAL AND EXPLORE HOW WE MIGHT HELP THE MFA TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE TO TAKE A

MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH.

3.

AS REGARDS PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR, WE AGREE THAT NAMING AN ACTUAL TERMINATION DATE THROWS TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON 1997 AND THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO HAVE A TERMINATION AT NOTICE CLAUSE WHICH COULD BE INVOKED BY EITHER SIDE. INCIDENTALLY THE DRAFT ATTACHED TO BRADLEY'S LETTER OF 25 OCTOBER 1989 TO SEKI DOES NOT APPEAR TO CONTAIN SUCH A CLAUSE. BUT ONE COULD BE ADDED WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY. THE JAPANESE PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE AGREEMENT UNILATERALLY TERMINABLE AT ONE MONTH'S NOTICE IS CLEARLY LIKELY TO CREATE UNCERTAINTY.

4. LIKE YOU, OUR LEGAL ADVISERS ARE PUZZLED BY THE JAPANESE PROPOSAL TO DELETE SINGAPORE AND THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA FROM THE UK/JAPAN AGREEMENT OF 1957 SUBSEQUENT TO THE PROPOSED NEW ARRANGEMENT WITH HONG KONG. WE ASSUME THAT THIS MAY BE NO MORE THAN A TIDYING UP EXERCISE BUT THE REASON FOR THE JAPANESE PROPOSAL WILL NEED TO BE CLARIFIED.

5.

SIMILARLY WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD TRY TO CLEAR UP ANY MISUNDERSTANDING OVER JAPANESE MOTIVES FOR WISHING TO AMEND THE UK/JAPAN AGREEMENT OF 1957. YOU SHOULD POINT OUT THAT EVEN IF HONG KONG IS DELETED FROM THIS AGREEMENT, HOLDERS OF BN (0) PASSPORTS WOULD IN OUR VIEW STILL BE COVERED.

HURD

1

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CONFIDENTIAL

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