TNAG-2355-FCO40-3426-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1991 — Page 29

Background

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Japanese Foreign Minister

1.

The MFA in Tokyo have told us that, after meeting the

Secretary of State in Peking, Nakayama took a firm line on

Hong Kong with Qian Qichen. He stressed the regional and international importance of Hong Kong's continued prosperity and the need for Hong Kong to retain its present level of

economic freedom after 1997. He pressed for a satisfactory

agreement to enable the new airport to go ahead quickly.

2. Qian responded favourably but on the airport said that

details needed to be settled about the future financial

burden on China.

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