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RESTRICTED
FROM:
PF Ricketts
DATE:
CC:
Hong Kong Department
1 April 1993
Private Secretary
Sir J Coles
Mr Davies, FED
Mr Pellew, NAD
Ms Everett, News Dept
(By Fax)
Mr Ehrman, Political Adviser,
Hong Kong
Mr Pattison, Washington
PUBLICATION OF THE US ADMINISTRATION'S REPORT TO CONGRESS UNDER THE US/HONG KONG POLICY ACT
1.
Hong Kong telno 521 reports that the US Administration have now passed to Congress the first of the reports on conditions in Hong Kong required under the terms of the US/Hong Kong Policy Act (the McConnell Act).
2. I attach a copy of the report (it only becomes public when released by Congress, which could be later today). It is largely factual. Where it does touch on US policy, this is in helpful terms, particularly on page 7 where Hong Kong's cooperation on enforcing export controls is described as "exemplary" and on page 12 where the report includes a carefully worded passage on US support for democracy in Hong Kong (but deliberately avoids explicit support for the Governor's proposals).
3. If we are asked to comment, we shall need to bear in mind (a) the need to avoid fuelling Chinese suspicion of international conspiracies and (b) the need not to seem churlish in the eyes of the new US Administration.
4. I discussed with Hong Kong on the telephone the line which now appears in paragraph 3 of their telegram.
I agree with it. Subject to any views from addressees, I propose that News Department should not volunteer any comment. If asked, they should should keep the response low-key, on the following lines:
-
We have noted the contents of this report to the US Congress.
HKD Q1/3
RECEN
RESTRICTED
05 APR 1993
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