人
CONFIDENTIAL
MR GOODLAD ́S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 7-9 JANUARY 1994
BRIEF NO.
2
DINNER WITH SENIOR BUSINESSMEN
DAMAGE TO BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Senior Chinese leaders have said frequently and publicly that
political and economic issues should be kept separate. (Eg
in the context of renewal by the US of Most Favoured Nation
status for China, and most recently in a statement by
Ambassador Ma to a CBI Business Conference).
We have not been told formally by the Chinese side that they
intend to discriminate against British firms.
Economic relations are mutually beneficial. We note that
China at present enjoys an annual trading surplus of pounds
500million with the UK.
Discrimination against British firms would not be consistent
with the EC/China Cooperation Agreement, or the spirit of China's GATT application.
A mistake to think that discrimination against UK commercial and economic interests would bring about change of policy on
Hong Kong.
dinner.NAT.JRB
CONFIDENTIAL