CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1812
OF 06080OZ JULY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PEKING
175331
MDADAN 8448
CHINA'S MFN STATUS IN THE US: LEGCO MOTION DEBATE.
SUMMARY
1. THE CRC (CO-OPERATIVE RESOURCES CENTRE) HAVE INITIATED A
MOTION DEBATE IN LEGCO ON 8 JULY 1992 ON CHINA'S MFN TRADE STATUS
IN THE U.S. THE UDHK (UNITED DEMOCRATS) INTEND TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT CALLING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS
RECORD. THE THREE OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO WILL VOTE FOR THE
MOTION AND AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.
DETAILS
2. WE HAVE BEEN LOBBYING CRC LEADERS IN RECENT WEEKS IN AN EFFORT
TO PERSUADE THEM NOT TO INITIATE A DEBATE ON MFN IN LEGCO AT A
TIME WHEN U.S. CONGRESS IS PROCESSING TWO BILLS SEEKING TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THE RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MFN TRADING STATUS. SUCH A DEBATE WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE EITHER IN HONG KONG OR IN WASHINGTON. INSTEAD, STATEMENTS MADE AND POSITIONS TAKEN DURING THE DEBATE MIGHT PROVIDE ANTI-HONG KONG AMMUNITION TO THOSE
MEMBERS OF U.S. CONGRESS WHO OPPOSE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MEN.
3. DESPITE OUR LOBBYING, A CRC MEMBER HAS FORMALLY GIVEN NOTICE
OF A DEBATE IN LEGCO ON 8 JULY ON THE FOLLOWING MOTION:
''THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MOST FAVOURED NATION STATUS FOR CHINA BY THE UNITED STATES: AND
URGES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN VIGOROUS EFFORTS AND, WHEN NECESSARY, SEEK GREATER SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT, IN PURSUIT OF THIS GOAL''
.
4. WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED FROM THE UDHK THAT THEY INTEND TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CRC MOTION, BY ADDING WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT AN APPEAL SHOULD BE MADE TO THE PRC TO IMPROVE ITS
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. THE UDHK HAVE DECLINED TO LET US KNOW THE EXACT WORDING OF THE AMENDMENT. UNDER LEGCO STANDING ORDERS, THEY MAY GIVE NOTICE OF AN AMENDMENT AT ANY TIME BEFORE MIDNIGHT TODAY
(6 JULY).
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CONFIDENTIAL