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FM WASHINGTON
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER NFR
HICD 021/3
OF 122252Z APRIL 93
AND TO TELELETTER HONG KONG
FROM: S D PATTISON, WASHINGTON
TO:
CC:
.193
J MORRIS ESQ., HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO CHANCERY HONG KONG
U.S./HONG KONG
1.
PS/GH cc Mir Hen
30
152266
MDTTAN 0258
Mr Davies, FED
Mr Rich Mr whine 16/4. De Bain Rum Po 5/2014
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pa. Jiste
Gou -> Wash.
WE RECENTLY HELD ANOTHER IN OUR SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH PETER
LO AND PATRICK LAU FROM THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE TO DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR MFN. WE AGREED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROBABLY HOPED TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON AN APPROACH WHICH WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO RENEW MFN THIS SUMMER WHILST STIPULATING CONDITIONS
FOR RENEWAL THEREAFTER. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WERE NOT YET READY
TO SAY AS MUCH IN PUBLIC. THEY WERE WORKING HARD TO WIN OVER
SUPPORT ON THE HILL.
2. ON THE HILL, WE NOTED THAT LEADING DEMOCRATS (I.E. HAMILTON) WERE ADVOCATING A MORE MODERATE APPROACH THAN THAT FAVOURED IN THE
PAST BY HARDLINERS SUCH AS PELOSI. PROVIDED THE ADMINISTRATION DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY WERE TAKING CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, FEW DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT TO EMBARRASS THEM BY TURNING
MFN INTO A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.
3. WE AGREED THAT THE NEXT HIGHLIGHT IN OUR ATTEMPT TO LOBBY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. WE WOULD CONTINUE TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS ON THE HILL. BUT, FOR THE TIME BEING, IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO SEND LETTERS (I.E. FROM THE AMBASSADOR) TO CONGRESSMEN. WE SHOULD KEEP THESE IN RESERVE IN CASE CONGRESS SOUGHT TO CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION'S EVENTUAL POLICY.
4.
P
WE ALSO DISCUSSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, ARE BEING HANDLED MOSTLY BY THE HKETO. WE HAVE PUT IN FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, SECRETARY LORD, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, AND TREASURY SECRETARY BENTSEN, AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS. HKETO ARE PURSUING ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH SEVEN KEY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, PLUS GROUP MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE ON
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