The National Personnel Authority advised the Cabinet and the Parliament to raise monthly salaries for Government workers in general (in 1997) by an average 1.02% retroactive to April 1, 1997.
It also gave to Prime Minister Hashimoto a report to ban high ranking officials from being re-employed, for two years after retirement, by private companies over which they have had regulatory power, and to tighten punitive procedures for officials' irregular conducts.

This summer marked the 52nd anniversary of the devastation of Hisoshima bythe A-bomb. From 8:00 a.m., on the "very hour," started the Peace Memorial Ceremony (to console the dead and pray for lasting peace) at the Peace Memorial Park of the city. Present were about 45,000 representing the bereaved families and others concerned, who renewed their collective pledge to work for abolition of nuclear arms and ever-lasting world peace. Following Mayor Takashi Hiraoka's declaration of peace, Prime Minister Hashimoto took podium and said:
"We shall continue to make efforts for nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation and ultimately total abolition of nunclear arms and realization of a peaceful and safer world."

Part of a package plan to redevelop Okinawa, this program is sponsored by the Government to have about 10 young Okinawans educated in US, UK and other countries each year. They presented Mr.Hashimoto a tapestry dyed in "Ryukyu bule." He encouraged them: "I hope you will return home in a year's time with your sense of Pride firmed up in your culture and history."

Prime Minister Hashimoto refreshed himself in an eight-day vacation from Aug.7. After attending a national memorial event for the war dead on Aug.15, he again took days off.
He resumed his work Aug.18 participating in the intensive council talks on Government reform.
It was a rare streak of holidays for Mr.Hashimoto, which he spent enjoying his hobbies -- golf and reading.

The Government hosted its yearly "memorial service for the war dead"at Nihon Budoh-Kan, Tokyo, on Aug. 15 -- the day when the war ended.
At 11:50 a.m. gathered there Emperor and Empress, some 900 representatives of the bereaved and about 1,000 representing various walks of life.
Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed repentance and condolence in hisspeech: "That war also caused great affliction and grief to many other countries, particularly neighboring Asians."

For four days, from Aug.18 through Aug.21, the Government Reform Council (presided by Prime Minister Hashimoto) held intensive discussions at a hotel in central Tokyo. Councillors compared notes on their concepts of reform, Cabinet function reinforcement and ministries/agencies reorganization, agreeing upon a basic recommendation to"downsize" their number from present 22 to eventually 13 (including one directly reporting to Prime Minister).
All this will be compiled as the Council's "interim report,"which will be further discussed at its next meeting Sept.3.
Thereupon, the Council will collaborate with the Government and the ruling coalition party in order to present a "final report" by the end of coming November.

Prime Minister Hashimoto gave a speech at a meeting of local members of Japan Junior Chamber, Inc. in Naha, Okinawa and made it known that the Government will stage on Nov.25 an event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the handover of Okinawa to Japanese rule.
Referring to the problem of relocating the Futemma us military airport, Mr.Hashimoto strongly urged other prefecture(s) to offer substitute sites, saying:
"The Government will not compel any local autonomy to compromise. I would like to see a conclusion reached with cooperation of all people concerned."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Prime Minister Hashimoto at his official residence for exchange of opinions on Middle East affairs. Mr.Hashimoto suggested that Israel lift its economic embargo on the Palestinian self-rule areas.
The two agreed on having closer contacts for peace making processes in Middle East and also for countermeasures against terrorists.

Having participated since February 1997 in UNDOF at Golan Heights, Middle East, to keep apart opposing troops, 43 members of Japanese Self Defence Forces (headed by Major Takashi Motomatsu) came home and 12 of them immediately reported to Prime Minister Hashimoto.
Shaking hands with them each, he appreciated them for PKO activities they accomplished far away from home.

Lord Edmond Hillary, a New Zealander mountain climber who topped Mt.Everest first in the world, and his wife made a courtesy visit with Prime Minister Hashimoto. The visiting alpinist was invited as a lecturer to an Asian and Pacific regions' youth forum held on Aug.23 at the famous wetland of Oze, 150Km north of Tokyo.

Dominican Prime Minister Edison C. James called on Prime Minister Hashimoto for a 30-minute talk. Mr.James expressed his support for Japan as a candidate for a Parmanent Member of the UN Security Council.
Mr.Hashimoto pledged to send Japanese "peace corps" (young professionals) to Dominica to help develop the Carribean country.

As the (December, 1997) date approaches of the Kyoto, Japan, conference of the charter countries for prevention of global warming, the Government called a joint meeting of related councils at Prime Minister's official residence.
"It is imperative,"said Prime Minister Hashimoto there, "to prepare a comprehensive package measure -- not only energy-saving ideas but also reviewing of people's modern life styles."

Prime Minister Hashimoto met Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at his official residence.
�@Referring to the review in progress of the "guideline for Japanese-US defense cooperation, Mr.Goh said:
"It is quite useful for clarifying and stabilizing the Japanese-US Security Pact. I hope that, as a result, all ambiguities and misunderstandings will be removed."