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LAST SESSION, THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
10.
WE CAN, OF COURSE, PURSUE THE IDEA OF TRYING TO DE-LINK MFN FROM HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT THE PROSPECTS DO NOT LOOK BRIGHT. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION RAISED SENATOR BAUCUS'S PROPOSALS FOR A U.S./CHINA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WITH THE THE CHINESE EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT IDEA WAS REJECTED BY PEKING FOLLOWING THE U.S. DECISION TO SELL F16S TO TAIWAN.
LOBBYING PHASES
11.
(I)
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH THE HKETO TWO LOBBYING PHASES :
THE FIRST PHASE WILL START NOW I.E. WHILE OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING TO BRIEF THE CLINTON TRANSITION TEAM. WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SPELL OUT CLEARLY, IN THEIR BRIEFING FOR THE NEW TEAM, THE PROBLEMS FOR HONG KONG IF MFN IS WITHDRAWN. WE WILL REINFORCE THIS THROUGH OUR OWN LOBBYING OF KEY SENATORS, TRANSITION TEAM MEMBERS, CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS, AND DEMOCRATIC THINK TANKS (PARTICULARLY BROOKINGS AND THE PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE). AT THE SAME TIME THE HKETO WILL REVIEW ITS CONTRACTS WITH ITS PROFESSIONAL LOBBYISTS TO ENSURE THAT IT RETAINS ONLY THOSE WITH GOOD ACCESS TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
(II) PHASE TWO WILL START WHEN CLINTON'S ADMINISTRATION
12.
APPOINTMENTS ARE KNOWN. WE WILL INTENSIFY OUR LOBBYING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS AND KEY CONGRESSMEN. IN ADDITION TO TARGETING CONGRESSMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN THE PAST, WE WILL LOBBY NEW ENTRANTS, AND THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE CLOSE TO CLINTON. HKETO'S LOBBYISTS WILL BE ASKED TO EXAMINE THE VOTING RECORD OF THOSE CONGRESSMEN WHO HAVE BEEN STATE LEGISLATORS TO DETERMINE WHICH MIGHT BE MOST SYMPATHETIC TO US. HKETO WILL ALSO IDENTIFY CONGRESSMEN AND STAFFERS WHO MIGHT BE INVITED TO HONG KONG EARLY NEXT YEAR TO OBTAIN FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG OF UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL.
A VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR WILL BE CRUCIAL IN INFLUENCING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AS IT DECIDES HOW TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE ANNUAL RENEWAL DEBATE IN JUNE. THE PRIME MINISTER NO DOUBT WILL WANT TO RAISE THIS ISSUE AT AN EARLY STAGE IN HIS CONTACTS WITH CLINTON. WE SHOULD ALSO USE THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE BY OTHER MINISTERIAL OR SENIOR OFFICIAL CONTACTS WITH MEMBERS OF CLINTON'S
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