TNAG-2346-FCO40-3415-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--Japan-and-China-1991 — Page 39

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urged Mr Nakayama to open an Embassy, and had hinted that if a Perm Rep was all the Japanese could manage, they might not get sympathetic treatment.

3.

The restoration of peace, at least on paper, made it easier for the Japanese to normalise relations with Vietnam. But Act II of the

peace process (the return of the Khmer Rouge) would be very

difficult.

4. Mr Kohno said that bilateral aid to Cambodia should be well

coordinated, and that a blue print was needed to ensure that ICOC

worked. Indo-China was a region the major transport arteries ran

through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. A broad vision was

necessary. Mr Tanino said that the Japanese were proposing a small group (P5, Japan, Germany, perhaps Indonesia) in New York to ensure

consultations on aid contributions.

5. Sir John Coles said that the UK would appreciate the opportunity of further consultation. The initial consultation group consisted of the P5, Japan, Germany and Australia or Canada. He

noted Japan's suggestion that Indonesia might be included. The membership was not fixed. The UK shared all Japan's concerns on

Phase II of the peace process. The long delay between the agreement

and the deployment of UNTAG was worrying. The timetable needed to

be accelerated. Consideration was underway about who should be the

Special Representative. We were seeking assessments of probable

candidates. The name of Muza Hitam had occurred to us. But it was

not a British proposal. The Secretary General would decide by the middle of the following week.

6.

Sir John Coles noted Mr Nakayama's undertaking to make a provision for UNTAG. Mr Tanino said that there was a growing

international consensus that the SDF should be deployed eg for

removing mines. Sir John Coles said he had much sympathy with the

regional approach. Mr Colvin observed that we should continue to be sensitive over the extent to which the idea of federation had caused

conflict between Indo-Chinese states in the past. But the Bali

treaty was a step towards possible membership of ASEAN. Mr Kohno said that Cambodia should be the first Indo-China country into

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