CONFIDENTIAL
COMMENT
8. TRAN HAS UNIQUE LINES TO THE CHINESE WHO RESPECT HIS GATT EXPERTISE. SINCE HE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SEEK TO INFLUENCE THE COURSE OF EVENTS, IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE IN OUR INTERESTS TO KEEP IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH HIM FROM NOW ON. HE IS FULLY ALERT TO THE SENSITIVITIES AT STAKE AND AS ANXIOUS THAT WE SHOULD NOT LEAK HIS CONFIDENCES AS WE THAT HE SHOULD RESPECT OURS. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL BE INTENTIONALLY UNHELPFUL AND WE ARE INCLINED TO ACCEPT HIS ASSURANCE THAT THE CHINESE HAVE EITHER MISUNDERSTOOD OR COULD BE MISREPRESENTING HIM ON THE 'SEPARATE CP ISSUE.
9. AS SEEN FROM HERE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO TALK NEXT TO THE AMERICANS. ACCORDING TO TRAN, THE BEST INTERLOCUTOR ON CHINA IS MIKE SMITH (WHO APPARENTLY HAS A FAR EAST BACKGROUND).
SANKEY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR. WILSON
ECD (E)
CONTIDENTIAL