TNAG-1879-FCO40-2670-Student-demonstrations-and-internal-political-situation-in-C-1989 — Page 45

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(II) ON HONG KONG, QUOTE THE GUARANTEE OF THE PRC FOR

QUOTE ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS UNQUOTE IN HONG KONG HAS LITTLE CREDIBILITY IN LIGHT OF THE NGOING BRUTAL CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRATIC FORCES IN THE PRC, AND THE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD CONVEY TO THE PRC AND THE UK THE STRONG RESERVATIONS OF THE US WITH RESPECT TO THE ABSENCE OF GUARANTEES OF FREE DIRECT ELECTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE REVERSION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG TO THE PRC IN 1997: (III) THAT ASYLUM IN THE US SHOULD BE OFFERED TO ANY

CHINESE NATIONAL WHO WAS UNDER THREAT OF SEVERE PENALTY FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVITY:

(IV) THAT BUSH SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR QUOTE COURAGEOUS

AND APPROPRIATE ACTION UNQUOTE IN GIVING REFUGE

TO FANG LIZHI.

IN A REACTION TO THIS ON 29 JUNE, BAKER MADE CLEAR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT AGREE THAT LEGISLATION ON THESE

LINES WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. QUOTE I THINK WE DO RECOGNISE THE DESIRE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE AND TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT WE REALLY FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE LEADERSHIP IN THIS INSTANCE SHOULD COME FROM ... THE PRESIDENT ... AS ONE WHO IS THOROUGHLY AND COMPLETELY VERSED IN THE AFFAIRS OF CHINA UNQUOTE. BAKER ADDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON A MEASURE WHICH WOULD GIVE CONGRESSMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE CHINA ISSUE BUT WHICH WOULD RETAIN THE NECESSARY

FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO RESPOND TO THE SITUATION

AS IT DEVELOPED. PRIVATE COMMENTS BY CONTACTS AT STATE

INDICATE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ARE STILL CONSIDERING

WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ANY LEGISLATION OF THE KIND PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE OR SHOULD

BE PREPARED TO CUT A DEAL WHICH INCLUDED LIMITED NEW MEASURES

BUT ALSO PROVIDED FOR SOME PRESIDENTIAL DISCRETION. THE

QUESTION OF WHETHER TO ISSUE A LICENCE FOR ASIASAT SATELLITE

WAS ALSO NOT YET RESOLVED.

5. THE HOUSE LANGUAGE IS UNLIKELY TO BECOME LAW SOON, IF EVER. THERE IS NO EQUIVALENT YET IN THE SENATE VERSION OF THE FOREIGN

AID AUTHORISATION BILL. THE SENATE HAS ALREADY RISEN FOR THE

4 JULY RECESS AND THE HOUSE IS DUE TO DO SO TODAY. IT MAY

BE THE AUTUMN BEFORE THE BILL FINALLY BECOMES LAW OR, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, PARTS OF IT MAY MERELY BE SUBSUMED IN THE

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