TNAG-2207-FCO40-3164-Multiple-entry-visa-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1990 — Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 060900Z F C O

TELNO 2683

OF 060745Z SEPTEMBER 90

INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO

A

162405

MDHIAN 7342

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD 345/!

RECEIVED

3 0 NOV 1990

DESK OFFICE:

INDEX

PA

TOP COPY Q DIST?

FOLLOWING FOR HKD

YOUR TELNO 1636% HONG KONG/JAPAN MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA AGREEMENT

1.

WE ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE SEEN BRADLEY'S NOTE OF 17 AUGUST (COPIED TO MARSDEN AND CHANCERY, TOKYO) WHICH RECORDS THE LATEST EXCHANGE WITH THE JAPANESE CONSULATE-GENERAL ON THIS SUBJECT. AS YOU HAVE NOTED, THE PROSPECTS ARE NOT ENCOURAGING.

2.

WE HESITATE TO SUGGEST THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD BE BOTHERED WITH AN ISSUE THAT OUGHT TO BE OF A MINOR AND TECHNICAL NATURE. HOWEVER, IF HE WERE ABLE TO MENTION IT IN THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE, AS A SMALL BUT NEVERTHELESS HELPFUL DEMONSTRATION OF JAPANESE SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US.

3

IN FACT, OF COURSE, IT WOULD NOT SIMPLY BE A DEMONSTRATION OF JAPANESE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE BUT A MEASURE WITH IMMEDIATE BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON BUSINESS TRAVELLERS BETWEEN HONG

KONG AND JAPAN.

4. WITH REFERENCE TO BRADLEY'S MEMO MENTIONED ABOVE, WE RECEIVED FROM THE CONSULATE-GENERAL A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. WE ARE SEEKING TO COMPILE THE FIGURES THEY WANT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

5.

IT IS CERTAINLY OUR IMPRESSION THAT THE BLOCKAGE IS IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. IN WHICH CASE YOUR PARA. 3 MAY WELL BE CORRECT.

WILSON

YYYY

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL