TNAG-2242-FCO40-3223-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 6

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Argument

7.

It is self-evident that, as we did last year, we must

make every effort to support Hong Kong over MFN. Hong Kong have set out their own lobbying strategy in telno 1062 and

the Governor will shortly write to key Senators and Congressmen in terms of Hong Kong telno 1397.

8. We have had a preliminary discussion about supporting

action by HMG and have concluded as follows:

(I)

Action with the US

(a) The Prime Minister has already mentioned to the

President his concern over the impact on Hong Kong in

Bermuda on 13 March. The President suggested that the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce should visit the United States;

this has since happened.

(b) The Secretary of State and the Prime Minister will

see Mr Seitz the new US Ambassador on 7 and 8 May

respectively and have been briefed to flag the importance of

the issue.

(c) The Secretary of State will be in Washington on 14

and 15 May.

He should raise it with Mr Baker over lunch

(agenda will need slight amendment), mention it to General

Scowcroft and have it as a principal point for any brief meeting with the President given the close proximity of

the 1 June decision date.

(d)

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Sir A Acland should, like last year, write personally to all influential Congressman and the Embassy should continue its close liaison with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office over lobbying in Washington.

DUNAFS/3

CONFIDENTIAL