CONFIDENTIAL
38
042125
MDHIAN 0277
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1044
OF 080025Z MAY 93
AND IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
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FROM GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG (VISITING)
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH
MY VISIT TO WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK:
OVERVIEW
1 I VISITED WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK FROM 2 MAY TO 8 MAY. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME ARRANGED FOR ME BY THE EMBASSY, THE CONSULATE-GENERAL AND OUR TWO HONG KONG OFFICES IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND THE HAPPY TIMING OF MY VISIT I WAS GRANTED EXTRAORDINARY ACCESS TO KEY DECISION-MAKERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, AND GIVEN A NUMBER OF USEFUL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WASHINGTON, TO MAKE OUR CASE ON MFN.
2.
IN THE ADMINISTRATION, IN ADDITION TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WHARTON CIN CHRISTOPHER'S ABSENCE IN EUROPE), LORD, BERGER, RUBIN AND BENTSEN AND, IN CONGRESS, FOLEY, ROSTENKOWSKI, HAMILTON, MITCHELL, MCCONNELL, PELOSI, BAUCUS, PORTER, BRADLEY, ROBB (AND HIS SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS SUB COMMITEE) AND ACKERMAN (AND HIS HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE).
3. THIS LEVEL OF INTEREST IN HONG KONG WAS DUE PARTLY TO OUR
CURRENT ARGUMENT WITH CHINA. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ALSO (AND STILL IS) RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO WORK OUT ITS POLICY ON
MFN FOR CHINA. HENCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GETTING OVER TO THEM AND CONGRESS THE HARMFUL IMPACT ON HONG KONG OF WITHDRAWAL OR SERIOUS CONDITIONING OF MEN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER TIMED. OF POSSIBLY GREATER LONG-TERM SIGNIFICANCE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO SEEKING TO PUT MFN INTO THE CONTEXT OF A WIDER OVERALL FRAMEWORK OF POLICY TOWARDS CHINA SO THAT THE ANNUAL MFN REVIEW CYCLE BECOMES LESS OF AN OBSESSIVE FOCUS OF ATTENTION IN THE FUTURE. I DID WHAT I COULD TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION IN THIS DIRECTION.
4.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF MY VARIOUS MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SENT SEPARATELY. IT IS PRETTY CLEAR FROM THOSE MEETINGS THAT THE
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HICD 021/3.
10 MAY 1993