TNAG-2346-FCO40-3415-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--Japan-and-China-1991 — Page 20

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Re-highlighted section I para 3. Contributen

as attaches sent to

Min Section, for. (Mn Cox agread).

Mr Morris Mr Seaton

HLI Davies

FROM:

Far Eastern Department

18 December 1991

DATE:

CC:

PS

PS/Lord Caithness

Mr Burns

PS/PUS

Sir J Coles

Mr Ricketts, HKD Head/NPDD

Head/ESED

Mr Cooper, Planners Head/Soviet Dept

JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING

1. Tanaka told me last night that Mr Watanabe would be visiting Peking between 3 and 6 January. He was instructions to convey

under us a number of messages about this visit. He will circulate these later today in writing, but the gist is that:

(a)

(b)

(c)

the Japanese Government wish to keep us closely informed about this contact with China as part of our on-going political consultation;

Japanese policy towards China continues to be governed by the line taken in the Chairman's summary at the G7 Summit in London; the essence is to avoid isolating China and to encourage China by discreet contact to play a constructive role in the world;

Mr Watanabe would be glad to convey any messages the Chinese on subjects of importance to us; he would do so in his own words, presenting these as subjects of interest to Japan.

2. I told Tanaka that I welcomed this approach. I would ensure that it was given urgent attention. I would also endeavour to arrange that we conveyed any response in writing, as he requested.

to

3. The Japanese have in the past been helpful in speaking to the Chinese about Hong Kong matters.

There are, I think,

a number of points which the Japanese could again get across

HDI AFT

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