CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT BY SIR J COLES TO WASHINGTON:
19 APRIL
HONG KONG
HKD Q1/3
R!
15 APR 1993
Check-list of Points to Make
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Governor's Visit. Important that Governor should be able to confirm before he leaves Hong Kong that he will be seeing the President.
Constitutional Issues. These have dominated our relations with China over Hong Kong since October. Now agreed that talks will start on 22 April. Likely to be difficult and protracted.
If we can reach agreement with China, will recommend that to LegCo and expect they will pass it without too much difficulty. If no agreement, will face tricky decision in due course about when and how to break off talks and take forward legislative process.
- US Support. Welcome new Administration's well-judged
support (eg in report to Congress under the McConnell Act and Secretary Christopher's testimony). China neuralgic about anything which smacks of interference. But salutary for them to know that US continuing to take close interest.
colesvisitBRIEFS13.4
MFN.
Grateful for the undertakings by the President and Mr Christopher that we will be consulted as the Administration's policy on this develops.
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