CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 021/2
簟
* A-- 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 15113OZ F C O
OF 151015Z APRIL 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PEKING
TELNO 1073
Q4
ZB
26
104530
MDHIAN 0544
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
See Telour + p.a.
WASHINGTON TELNO 787: U S/HONG KONG: THE MCCONNELL BILL
JM 15/4
WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING OUR PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE U S/HK POLICY ACT IF AND WHEN IT IS PASSED. I ALSO NEED TO DECIDE WHAT I
SHOULD SAY TO SENATOR MCCONNELL HIMSELF WHEN HE CALLS ON ME ON 22
APRIL (AND SENATORS PELL AND BOREN ON 21 APRIL). I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING LINES TO TAKE, IF POSSIBLE DESKBY 16090OZ.
2. IN PUBLIC WE MUST STICK TO A MINIMAL LINE BECAUSE OF THE
KNOWN CHINESE SENSITIVITY. WE DO NOT INTEND TO VOLUNTEER A STATEMENT, BUT IF ASKED BY THE MEDIA WE PROPOSE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
THE BILL IS A MATTER FOR THE US CONGRESS.
(A)
(B)
THE US HAS A VERY LARGE STAKE IN HONG KONG. NATURAL
THAT THEY TAKE AN INTEREST.
(C)
(D)
(E)
APPRECIATE THE STRONG SUPPORT WHICH THE US ADMINISTRATION HAS CONSISTENTLY GIVEN TO THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S
FUTURE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.
WARMLY WELCOME CONTINUING US INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS
INTERESTS IN HONG KONG.
HOPE THE GOODWILL OF THE CONGRESS TOWARDS HONG KONG WILL
BE REFLECTED IN THEIR APPROACH TO RENEWING MFN FOR CHINA.
3. WITH THE SENATORS, I WOULD MAKE ALL OF THE ABOVE POINTS, BUT ADD THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON THE MCCONNELL BILL:
(A)
APPRECIATE THE BILL'S AIM TO SUPPORT THE JD AND ENSURE
HONG KONG'S CONTINUED STATUS IN US LAW. HOPE THIS HELPFUL
INTENTION MIGHT BE REFLECTED IN SOME PRACTICAL EFFECTS (E.G. PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL