TNAG-2223-FCO40-3194-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1991 — Page 68

Mr Pehla Wials

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HKB 020 12,

RECEIVED

10 APR 1991

FROM:

H LI Davies

Far Eastern Department

DATE:

8 March 1991

CC:

Mr Burns

Mr Paul, HKD

JAPAN/HONG KONG

1.

During lunch with two members of the Japanese Embassy on 5 March, Tanaka (Political Counsellor) suggested that the UK and Japan should increase their dialogue on Hong Kong between now and 1997. He has in mind regular (but not necessarily frequent) exchanges between UK and Japanese officials on major Hong Kong issues.

2. I warmly welcomed his suggestion. We had previously encouraged the Japanese to do precisely this. Their interests in Hong Kong were substantial. We and they tended to view China similarly, particularly the need to encourage economic reform and development there in order to anchor China as a force of stability in the region. I encouraged Tanaka and his colleague Takahashi (1st Sec with China / Taiwan background) to set up contacts with your department.

H LI Davies

We have had a similar, less direct,

Singapore. This all

approach hou

one of the ideas Planner This all fits in with

ruite in their forthcoming

we

are likely to

meet

return.

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to

discuss

Pole, 2/3

1

Should

papes. strategy' alter Mr Paul's

international strategy'