CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 100100Z HONG KONG TELNO 890
OF 091515Z MAY 91
AND TO DESKBY 10010OZ PEKING
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
CONFIDENTIAL
39
010315
MDHOAN 3200
TOP CMDHOAN O DIST ?
Mak dok
RECL
3 MAY 031
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, OTTAWA, TOKYO, INFO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA, SINGAPORE
ROME
FROM HKD
MFN STATUS FOR CHINA: ACTION PLAN
1.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ENDORSED THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF OUR ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS IN RETAINING MFN STATUS FOR CHINA. HE HAS HOWEVER ASKED FOR FURTHER ADVICE ON HOW TO TACKLE THE CHINESE SEE BELOW.
ACTION WITH THE AMERICANS
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS AGREED TO RAISE THE MFN ISSUE IN HIS BILATERALS IN WASHINGTON ON 14-15 MAY WITH MR BAKER, GENERAL SCOWCROFT AND WITH PRESIDENT. HE HAS ALSO AGREED THAT
SIR A ACLAND COULD WRITE PERSONALLY TO INFLUENTIAL CONGRESSMEN AND PERHAPS TO SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT THE EMBASSY SHOULD CONTINUE ITS CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE HONG KONG AND ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE OVER LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON. GRATEFUL FOR SIR A ACLAND'S VIEWS ON THIS IDEA.
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THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT AT A TIME TO BE ADVISED BY SIR A ACLAND.
ACTION WITH THIRD PARTIES
4.
WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO SEND A HIGH LEVEL MESSAGE TO THE CANADIANS WHO HAVE A PARTICULARLY CLOSE INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S CONTINUING PROSPERITY. WE ALSO CONSIDER THAT A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MR NAKAYAMA AND MR NAKAO (MITI) WOULD BE USEFUL: THE SECRETARY OF STATE MET THEM RECENTLY BUT DID NOT COVER MFN. SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF POSTS, WE SHALL ALSO SEND MESSAGES TO MR DE MICHELIS BEFORE HIS VISIT TO PEKING AND ALSO TO THE AUSTRALIANS AND SINGAPOREANS.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO...2.7.(1)
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