CONFIDENTIAL
THE Embass
IMMEDIATE
THE TALKS ON HONG KONG. YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
WE WERE CONCERNED BY THE REMARKS BY LI LANQING AND BY QIAN QICHEN DURING THE NPC FORESHADOWING DAMAGE TO ECONOMIC AND
TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA.
- WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH CERTAIN BRITISH
COMPANIES.
THIS IS A MATTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO HMG. IT WOULD APPEAR TO
WE BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP OF GATT. ARE SURPRISED BY IT GIVEN THE INTEREST OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES IN DEVELOPING TRADE, AND GIVEN CHINA'S LARGE TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
-
WE HOPE THAT THIS POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION WILL CEASE
IMMEDIATELY.
3. AS YOU KNOW, THE EC COMMISSION WILL BE SPEAKING IN GENERAL TERMS ABOUT CHINESE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST EC COMPANIES IN THE FORTHCOMING EC/CHINA JOINT COMMISSION. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE TAKE
ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE NEXT WEEK.
HURD
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ΜΑΙΝ
HK POLICY
ECD (E)
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