XN000022-1993-05-07 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1993

GOVERNOR'S STRONG CALL FOR UNCONDITIONAL MPN TO CHINA

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THE

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, YESTERDAY ISSUED A STRONGLY WORDED CALL FOR THE UNITED STATES TO UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MOST FAVOURED NATION (MPN) STATUS FOR

(THURSDAY) GRANT CHINA.

A

SPEAKING *FO MORE THAN 600 PROPLE AT

LUNCHEON MEETING ORGANISED BY THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS ON THE FIRST DAY OF HIS TWO-DAY VISIT TO NEW YORK, MR PATTEN WARNED HIS AUDIENCE OF PRIMARILY BUSINESS LEADERS ANDY GUESTS THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE SERIOUSLY HARMED ECONOMICALLY IF THE U.S. DID NOT RENEW MFN FOR CHINA UNCONDITIONALLY.

"IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CANCEL MEN, IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAVILY CONSTRAIN MFN, WITHOUT DAMAGING HONG KONG, HE SAID.

"

"THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN SOMEHOW HELP HONG KONG BY ATTACHING WHAT HAPPENS IN HONG KONG TO RENEWAL OF MEN SHOULD REALLY THINK AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

"YOU CAN'T HELP HONG KONG BY HURTING HONG KONG'S ECONOMY, PATTEN TOLD HIS AUDIENCE.

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"THE GOVERNOR SAID UNCONDITIONAL MEN RENEWAL BENEFITS NOT

+ HONG KONG, BUT ALSO CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES HONG KONG'S TWO MOST IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNERS.

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"

"I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY WEEK S0 FAR TALKING то THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ABOUT ONE SUBJECT, HE SAID. "I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRADE."

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"I THINK FREE TRADE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE, MR PATTEN SAID. "ONCE YOU STOP TURNING THE PEDALS THERE'S ALWAYS A TERRIBLE DANGER OF FALLING OFF INTO SOME PROTECTIONIST PUDDLE. SO FREE TRADE IS ABOUT THE ONLY ISSUE ABOUT WHICH I AM UNASHAMEDLY IDEOLOGICAL.

MR PATTEN SAID HE BELIEVED, "THE BEST WAY OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE IN CHINA IS THROUGH MORE TRADE AND CONTINUING SUCCESS FOR THE OPENING UP OF THE CHINESE ECONOMY."

"RESTRICT TRADE, STOP MEN AND THE PEOPLE YOU HURT MOST ARE THOSE WHO ARE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF CHINA'S GREAT EXPERIMENT WITH ECONOMIC LIBERALISM, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

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HE ALSO CITED ESTIMATES THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD LOSK AS MANY AS 150,000 JOBS IF TRADE RELATIONS WERE DISRUPTED.

WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SUCH ISSUES AS WEAPONS PROLIFERATION, TRADE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS REMAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE U.S AND CHINA, THE GOVERNOR SATIE: "THE BLUNDERBUSS OF MFN RENEWAL IS THE RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.

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