visit.BTC.JRB
CONFIDENTIAL
File.
22
радо гро
VISIT OF MR HISASHI OWADA, JAPANESE VICE-MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS: 9 OCTOBER
Hong Kong: Memory-Joggers
-
Prospects for Hong Kong look good. South China economic development irreversible. Hong Kong's success hinges on its
economy. But we also need to create the right political
environment.
- As Douglas Hurd told Mr Watanabe in New York on 22 September,
we are grateful for Japan's efforts to influence China.
-
Important to continue to remind China (as Mr Watanabe has been
doing) that a confrontational policy towards Hong Kong could discourage foreign investment. Particularly relevant to our
current talks with China aimed at resolving the airport financing problem.
- We have taken full account of Chinese problems with financing arrangements for the airport. We have given them new proposals
based on their own ideas. Probably (though they deny it) the
Chinese are linking agreement on Airport financing to other constitutional issues, eg democracy.
- Also useful that China is told frankly that the developing democratic system is essential to the maintenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and that Chinese attacks on it undermine business confidence in the One Country Two Systems policy. Hope you can support Chris Patten's constitutional
proposals.
-
Look forward to Japan's involvement in establishing separate agreements with Hong Kong on matters such as air services and
visa abolition.
CONFIDENTIAL
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