GENERAL SCENES HANEDA AIRPORT, MR. OGAWA'S DEPARTURE. MR. AND MRS. OGAWA, JAPANESE OFFICIALS, CHINESE AMBASSADOR, CHU, OGAWA COUPLE ENTER AIRCRAFT THROUGH POLICE GUARDS, AND AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF.




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Background: Japan's first Ambassador to China, Mr. Heishiro Ogawa, left Tokyo for Peking today to assume his new post.

Mr. Ogawa is scheduled to stop in Hong Kong for two days, and will arrive in Peking on March 31.

China's first Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Chen Chu, arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday. The exchange of Ambassadors follows Japan's recognition of the People's Republic of China in September last year.

Mr. Ogawa, a career diplomat, is considered to be an authority on Chinese affairs. He joined Japan's Foreign Ministry in 1938, and spent much of his early career in China. In 1960 he was appointed Consul General in Hong Kong, and was subsequently Ambassador to Denmark before being picked by Prime Minister Tanaka for his present appointment.

Mr. Ogawa, who left Tokyo accompanied by a party of officials who will make up his senior staff and councillors in Peking, was seen off at the airport by Mr. Chen Chu.