CONFIDENTIAL
MED 021
RECE
2 2 DEC 1993
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO
FM FCO
TELNO 679
OF 211533Z DECEMBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
MISTRY
tturi Fækkest
pa
(107).
175717 MDHOAN 2578
22/12 TC Q DIST ?
VISIT TO CHINA BY JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER 7-9 JANUARY: HONG KONG
1. At the informal talks on China held at Chevening in October (FCO telnos 643 and 644 refer) Ikeda noted Japan's strong interest in Hong Kong's future and confirmed Japan's willingness to continue to raise Hong Kong in the course of appropriate contacts with the Chinese. He flagged up Mr Hata's forthcoming visit to Peking as a further opportunity. The Japanese Embassy have now reiterated Japanese willingness to brief Mr Hata in
We advance of his visit on any points we would like to make. understand that this part of the visit is still on, and that Mr Hata will be in Peking from 7-9 January. We would like to take the Japanese up on this offer.
2.
Subject to any views from the Governor, grateful therefore if you would make the following points to Ikeda (or a member of his staff):
- Grateful for Japan's continued support over Hong Kong, most recently when Mr Hosokawa raised Hong Kong with Jiang Zemin in Seattle. Since then, we have kept the Japanese Embassy here up to date on our talks with China.
The Japanese Government will therefore know that after seven months of negotiation, we needed to legislate on the more urgent electoral issues. The Legislation which the Governor has introduced responds to the evident desire for more democracy in
it is consistent Hong Kong and is largely uncontroversial there;
with the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law and wherever possible reflects agreed positions in the talks. We remain ready to continue negotiations on the more complex issues and have recently reaffirmed this to the Chinese side.
Against this background, we believe that it would be very timely if Mr Hata were able to make plain during his visit to
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
Page
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.