D C Wilson Esq Political Adviser
HONG KONG
Der Dont
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN
RESTRICTED
British Embassy
FEKING
(22)
10 June 1980
HKA 020 (4
RECETA FOR JMR 17/6.
WYS JY
DESKOELER
INDEX
PA
19.
1. On the morning of 4 June I spoke with Zheng Yaowen of, Western European Dept, MFA, as requested in your telno 716 of 3 June, adding that detailed arrangements would be worked out locally. Zheng said he was grateful both for the consideration given to China's position - he believed the general level of trade with Iran, either through Hong Kong or otherwise was very low and for the advance warning. He was a little surprised atthis development since he understood that Parliament had refused to ratify the EEC sanctions decision. I explained that only the date after which existing orders could not be fulfilled had had to be altered.
2. More generally Zheng repeated the usual Chinese line that although they sympathised with the US Government over the hostages, they believed that any measures over and above diplomatic pressure would be counterproductive. Trade sanctions or military measures would not strengthen the hand of those elements in the Iranian leadership who were seeking a reasonable solution, and would also increased opportunities for meddling by the Soviet Union.
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Kim Sullivan
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