2
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1993
AND CONGRESS
I EXPLAINED THE
MY VISIT WAS WELL TIMED, THE NEW ADMINISTRATION ARE MOVING TOWARDS A DECISION ON THE MFN ISSUE. IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISION FOR HONG KONG. J MADE IT CLEAR THAT NON- RENEWAL OR HEAVILY QUALIFIED RENEWAL WOULD HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON JOBS AND INCOMES HERE. WE ESTIMATE THAT 70,000 JOBS MIGHT BE LOST IN HONG KONG AND THAT OUR GROWTH RATE WOULD BE HALVED IF CHINA WERE TO BE DENIED MFN STATUS BY THE UNITED STATES. I AM CONVINCED THAT HONG KONG'S POSITION IS NOW WELL UNDERSTOOD IN WASHINGTON AND THAT OUR CONCERNS WILL BE A MAJOR FACTOR TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE FINAL DECISION IS MADE.
FOUND ABOUT
HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE TO REPORT TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT I WIDESPREAD CONCERN IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, MARKET ACCESS AND ABOUT ARMS PROLIFERATION.
WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE STRENGTH OF UNITED STATES CONCERNS ON THESE MATTERS.
I ARGUED THAT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO LINK TRADE AND POLITICS. AS HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL KNOW, MR WINSTON LORD HAS HAD AN IMPORTANT ROUND OF MEETINGS IN PEKING THIS WEEK. WE MUST ALL HOPE THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
YESTERDAY, MEMBERS PASSED A MOTION CALLING ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO LOBBY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA.
WE WILL OF COURSE PASS ON MEMBERS' VIEWS TO LONDON.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO YOU THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. I RECEIVED THE FULL SUPPORT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON AND HIS STAFF IN MY OWN LOBBYING EFFORTS LAST WEEK. HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WILL GO ON PRESSING OUR CASE BUT I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US MUST GO ON ARGUING FOR UNCONDITIONAL MFN RENEWAL AND EXPLAINING THE IMPACT HERE IF MFN IS NOT RENEWED OR IF IT IS QUALIFIED. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THOSE BUSINESS MISSIONS WHICH HAVE CARRIED THIS MESSAGE FROM HONG KONG TO THE UNITED STATES AND PARTICULARLY TO THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG FOR THEIR TIRELESS AND EFFECTIVE WORK.
SOME
THAT
ONE PARTICULAR POINT WHICH I STRESSED DURING MY VISIT WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE AT ALL HELPFUL TO HONG KONG IF THE RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINA ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS WAS IN WAY ATTACHED AS A CONDITION OF MFN RENEWAL. I AM GLAD TO SAY THIS POINT WAS ACCEPTED IN PARTICULAR BY REPRESENTATIVE PELOSI, AUTHOR OF THE DRAFT HOUSE BILL PROPOSING THE CONDITIONING OF MFN. A RESULT OF OUR REPRESENTATIONS, SHE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WILL DELETE ANY REFERENCE TO THE OUTCOME OF HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE FROM HER DRAFT LEGISLATION.
THE
AS
I SHOULD ADD THAT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF INTEREST IN THIS CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE ON THE PART OF NEARLY EVERYONE I MET. MANY QUESTIONED ME CLOSELY ABOUT IT. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS LIVING IN HONG KONG AND THE SIZE OF U.S. INVESTMENTS AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS HERE, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THEY SHOULD MAINTAIN AN INTEREST IN ANY MATTERS AFFECTING HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. IT WAS FULLY RECOGNISED AND HELPFULLY STATED BY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF THAT THE RESOLUTION OF THESE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES WAS A MATTER FOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE SOVEREIGN POWERS. BUT MANY PEOPLE EXPRESSED THEIR FIRM AND SINCERE HOPE, FOR WHICH I WAS MOST GRATEFUL, THAT THE PRESENT SERIES OF TALKS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA WOULD END SUCCESSFULLY. THAT IS, I AM SURE, AN ASPIRATION SHARED BY US ALL.
/PRESIDENT: