CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS NEW YORK
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2000
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 091/1
RECEIVED IN
25 MAY 1013
ISTRY
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REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
OF 22055OZ MAY 93
100
077333
MDHIAN 1866
TOP COPY Q DIST?
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY
FOREIGN SECRETARY'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON, 21 MAY:
CHINA/MFN
SUMMARY
1. US PRESSING AHEAD WITH CONDITIONAL MFN RENEWAL BY EXECUTIVE ORDER. WILLING TO CONSIDER ISSUING A STATEMENT TO SAY THERE IS NO LINKAGE BETWEEN MFN RENEWAL AND THE UK POSITION ON HONG KONG.
DETAIL
2.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY THANKED WARREN CHRISTOPHER FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S VISIT EARLIER THIS MONTH. HE ASKED ABOUT WINSTON LORD'S VISIT TO PEKING.
CHRISTOPHER DESCRIBED THIS AS A DISAPPOINTMENT. THE CHINESE HAD NOT BEEN BELLICOSE BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO GIVE AT ALL IN THEIR
POSITION. HE DID NOT THINK THE CHINESE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF MFN WAS RENEWED CONDITIONALLY. THE ADMINISTRATION PLANNED TO DO THIS BY EXECUTIVE ORDER RATHER THAN LEGISLATION. THE CONDITIONS WOULD COVER TRADE, NON-PROLIFERATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS. HE HOPED THAT THE CONDITIONS WOULD BE COUCHED IN GENERAL TERMS.
3.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY DREW ATTENTION TO THE DIFFICULTY OF INCLUDING NON-PROLIFERATION WHERE WE KNEW THE CHINESE WERE IN DEFAULT. CHRISTOPHER SAID THAT THE HELMS AMENDMENT ALREADY IMPOSED AN INDEPENDENT OBLIGATION TO TAKE STEPS AGAINST BREACHES OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATIES.
4. SIR ROBIN RENWICK SAID IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF A STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE COULD SAY AT THE TIME OF MFN RENEWAL THAT THERE WAS NO LINKAGE BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH TO CHINA/MFN AND THE UK POSITION ON HONG KONG. SUCH A REASSURANCE WOULD BE VALUABLE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. CHRISTOPHER SAID THIS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN MORE DETAIL WITH TARNOFF AND LORD. HE SAW NO DIFFICULTY IN PRINCIPLE.
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