TNAG-2851-FCO40-4104-Air-services-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1993 — Page 4

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Tokyo telno 909: Hong Kong/Japan Air Services.

We are grateful for report in TUR. This is not the first time that Doi has expressed concern about the existing regional route arrangements, although he is now articulating this more clearly. His confirmation that Japan is prepared to negotiate with Hong Kong on its own is also helpful against the background of recent comments by other MOT officials.

2. As we told Doi at the London talks in November 1992, we prepared to look at any changes to the existing arrangements that the Japanese may wish to propose in the context of the discussions that we intend to have on arrangements under a Hong Kong/Japan ASA. It would therefore be helpful if the MOT could agree to either of the weeks of 14 or 21 February that we have suggested for this purpose (Marshall's letter of 12 November to Glass refers).

3. Grateful for Tokyo also to ask the MFA for a response one way or the other - to our suggestion for a further round on the ASA text in either of the weeks of 17 or 24 January (ESB Note of 23 November to the Japan Consulate-General). That will enable us to plan our negotiations with other partners during that period accordingly.

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