13 December 1993
Page
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Tadashi Ikeda
Director General
Asian Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Foreign Affairs JAPAN
Thank you for your letter of 6 December about China and Hong Kong.
I am glad that you found the Chevening talks on China worthwhile. We on the British side also found this a most useful occasion. China seems certain to remain a major issue in the Asia policy of each of our countries. I am sure that a degree of coordination will continue to be helpful.
T am grateful to you for letting me know that Prime Minister Hosokawa and Foreign Minister Hata raised Hong Kong with their respective Chinese counterparts at Seattle. We had indeed been briefed on this by your Embassy in London.
Since you wrote, the Embassy have also told us that Foreign Minister Hata will be paying a visit to Peking in early January. We will, as they have asked, arrange to let you have some thoughts well in advance of his departure on points relating to Hong Kong which he might consider making to his Chinese counterpart.
As regards our own relations with China over Hong Kong, as you say we wish to continue the talks on electoral issues even though it has been necessary to proceed with the more urgent legislative steps. We much welcome the support of the Japanese Government for our policy towards Hong Kong.
I shall be leaving my present job on 15 December in order to prepare for my new appointment. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to you for all your help and cooperation in our dealings over Asian matters. My successor, Mr David Wright, arrives in mid-January.
SIR J COLES
mak.let.SA
SLM
CONFIDENTIAL
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