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CONFIDENTIAL
McConnell Bill
40
PAO(C) 6/3571/91
the Rule Mis/i Mr Woodrow 27/4
1.
21
Dick Williams, the US Consul-General, has told me of Senator McConnell's meeting with Zhou Nan of NCNA on 24 April. The US Consulate had emphasised to Zhou in advance that McConnell supported the President on MFN and was not antagonistic to China.
2.
McConnell started by briefly explaining his Bill, highlighting the need for the Administration to be authorised in law to deal with the SAR in ways foreseen in the Joint Declaration (eg. as a separate customs territory).
3.
Zhou gave McConnell a stern and lengthy lecture, concentrating in particular on the reporting provision. McConnell eventually interrupted him to ask if China would drop its opposition to the Bill if he dropped the reporting provision. Zhou said that China would oppose any US Bill on Hong Kong, which was a matter solely between China and the UK. McConnell said that he thought the Bill was in the US interest and they would therefore respectfully have to disagree.
4.
Williams confirmed, in answer to my question, that Zhou had not threatened any specific retaliation if the Bill passed. McConnell had concluded that there would be a lot of barking but not much bite.
Laise the
(W G Ehrman)
Political Adviser
28.4.92
ル
c.c. CS
SCA
PS/GH
Mr Galsworthy, UKREP JLG
Mr Ricketts, HKD, F CO
Mr Coates, BE Peking
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