UNCLASSIFIED
053474
5
MDLIAN
COULD BE TAKEN AS ADVANCE NOTICE BY INVESTORS TO PHASE OUT THEIR INVESTMENTS IN CHINA, THUS DAMAGING HONG KONG'S ECONOMY EVEN BEFORE MFN HAD BEEN REVOKED, ALLYING OURSELVES WITH THE US BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHICH STILL SUPPORTED UNCONDITIONAL MEN ENHANCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LOBBYING AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR MFN WAS REQUIRED TO COUNTER-BALANCE ARGUMENTS FOR MFN REVOCATION OR STRINGENT CONDITIONS.
5. THE SECRETARY SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT WAS EXTREMELY WELL-TIMED AND ENSURED THAT THE HONG KONG MESSAGE WAS CONVEYED TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN THE US ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS. HE REJECTED CHEONG'S COMMENT ON THE GOVERNOR AND SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD DONE NOTHING TO RIDICULE CHINA AND HAD SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME IN THE US ARGUING FORCEFULLY FOR THE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MEN AND AGAINST LINKING THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG WITH MFN.
PATTEN
YYYY
MAIN
63
HKD
PUSD
FED
NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
DISTRIBUTION
70
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF //MR SIBSON
PS/NO 10.
NNNN
2
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED