CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 070830Z FCO
TELNO 1396
CONFIDENTIAL
Q DIST?
175611
MDHIAN 5256
TOP COPY
UMB 0964
OF 070748Z MAY 91
RECE
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON
13 MAY :991
WASHINGTON PLEASE PASS TO HKETO.
YRTELNO 857: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA: EFFECT ON HONG KONG
·
1 I PROPOSE TO WRITE A PERSONAL LETTER TO KEY SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN TO SEEK THEIR SUPPORT FOR UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS. THE TEXT OF THE LETTER IS IN MY FIST IFT, AND THE PROPOSED LIST OF RECIPIENTS IS IN MY SECOND IFT.
2. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIST OF RECIPIENTS HAS BEEN DRAWN UP BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND OUR ETO AND THAT WASHINGTON HAS ALSO AGREED TO THE TEXT OF THE LETTER. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AND PEKING'S COMMENTS, IF ANY, DESKBY 08010OZ.
3. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD SEEK TO SHIELD HONG KONG IN THE EVENT OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS WERE NOT RENEWED. WE ARE THINKING FURTHER ABOUT THIS AND WILL COME BACK TO YOU. I DO NOT/NOT HOWEVER, THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO RAISE SUCH A POSSIBILITY WITH THE AMERICANS AT THIS STAGE. OUR INITIAL STRATEGY MUST BE TO SEEK US ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
33
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NAD
WWWW
DISTRIBUTION
33
ERD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL