J S Wall Esq, CMG, LVO
10 Downing Street
bam
S
HONG KONG: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
A
B
As you will recall, the Prime Minister raised this issue with President Bush when they met in Bermuda in
March. President Bush said that the Hong Kong argument
was a good one to use with Congress. When they spoke again by telephone on 23 May President Bush said it would be very helpful if the Prime Minister could make a
statement or talk or write to leading Congressmen.
The President has since decided to renew MFN status,
but if sufficient opposition can be mustered in Congress
his decision could be voted down or conditions could be
attached. Congress is likely to vote on MFN in the first
half of July, and the House Ways and Means Committee will
hold a hearing on 12 June.
C
We have consulted Sir A Acland about the most
effective manner and timing of Prime Ministerial
intervention. In the first instance he is writing to Congressmen making clear that the Prime Minister is
closely engaged and spelling out the Hong Kong
considerations. He then recommends that the Prime
Minister might make a statement in response to an
atso
LOUABB/CC