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4. On Chinese intentions, Doi said he accepted that it would be much better to negotiate an ASA separation agreement with Hong Kong before 1997 rather than wait to negotiate with the HKSAR Government or the PRC. But the Ministry of Transport were concerned that China was likely to be more demanding towards Japan than towards Hong Kong's other aviation partners. For historical reasons Japan's relations with China were very complicated. I said that Tarui, with whom I had also discussed this issue had not referred to any particular concerns on this score. Doi agreed it was curious that the MFA appeared to be more relaxed than the Ministry of Transport. Tarui and Orita were, he said, both strong allies of the British and Hong Kong Governments on this issue.
5. It is encouraging that the Ministry of Transport have at last given some indication of their internal timetable, even if this is somewhat slower than we would have liked. Since the MFA are already on board, things should start to move fairly quickly once the Ministry of Transport have concluded their discussions with the Japanese airlines. But we will obviously need to do what we can to keep up the pressure. Doi told me that he would be away on holiday from 10 August following the next round of air services negotiations with the US. Please let me know if there are any further points you would like me to feed in before then.
Yours for,
Rosalind Mand
Rosalind Marsden
Political Counsellor
my predecessor-but-one as Aube/HKD.)
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cc: Ms Elizabeth Whatmore, IAD, DOT
J Hall Esq, AMD, FCO
SR Sherrington Esq, FED, FCO R Bunten Esq, HKD, FCO
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