TNAG-2223-FCO40-3194-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1991 — Page 48

CODE 18-77

RESTRICTED

Reference.

summer, but was pessimistic about its chances, because of strong opposition from within the LDP. Even the opposition parties were now showing signs of willingness to discuss the current proposals, but his biggest problem remained with the

He said that when Obuchi replaced Ozawa as Secretary- General, he had tried to persuade Hata that he ought to move away from political reform. This reflected the unwillingness on the part of the Takeshita faction and party executives to do anything about political reform. On the other side of the coin, Mr Hata had been asked recently by a number of journalists whether he would be standing as a candidate for President of the LDP in October. As the only decent man pushing reform they had tried to persuade him to do so. None of the other possible candidates would be able to turn round once they became Prime Minister and say genuinely that they were in favour of political reform. Hata himself said he had no intention of standing for election. He also commented on a television interview Michio Watanabe had given last week, after which a number of Hata's friends and journalists had been up in arms about Watanabe's blatant non-support of Kaifu and empty rhetoric about political reform.

Julia Longbotton

Julia Longbottom Chancery

14 May 1991

cc: Mr S Bradley, Government House, Hong Kong

Mr R Cummins, FED, FCO

RESTRICTED