TNAG-2243-FCO40-3224-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 224

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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MA Bordk

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FM PEKING

TO ROUTINE F C 0

TELNO 650

OF 080152Z MAY 91

INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, MODUK, ACTOR, CANBERRA

001122

MDLIAN 9111

US/CHINA : KIMMITT AND LIU HUAQIU.

SUMMARY.

1. KIMMITT'S MAIN INTERLOCUTOR WAS VICE FOREIGN MINISTER LIU

HUAQIU. HUMAN RIGHTS WAS THE MAIN ISSUE. KIMMITT EXPLAINED AREAS

IN WHICH THE US HOPED TO SEE PROGRESS. HE DISCUSSED NON-PROLIFERATION AND MISSILE SALES. US KEEN TO KEEP CHINA INVOLVED. THE NEW WORLD ORDER DOES NOT SEEK TO EXCLUDE CHINA. IT IS UP TO THE CHINESE TO CONVINCE CONGRESS TO RENEW MFN WITHOUT UNNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS.

DETAIL.

2. US MINISTER COUNSELLOR SAID THAT KIMMITT HAD DELIBERATELY

APPROACHED THE VISIT IN A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL WAY. KEYSER SAID

KIMMITT GAVE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER LIU HUAQIU AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE US AT THE START OF THEIR TALKS IN A SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT

TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD. KIMMITT SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE TO GET THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP BACK ON TRACK. WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION STILL WANTED GOOD RELATIONS, BOTH IT AND CONGRESS HAD LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, HENCE THE MFN DEBATE. KIMMITT SAID THAT IF PROGRESS WERE MADE ON VARIOUS ISSUES, THIS MIGHT HELP CONGRESS DECIDE TO ALLOW RENEWAL OF MFN STATUS. THE ISSUES WERE HUMAN - RIGHTS, NON-PROLIFERATION AND TRADE.

HUMAN RIGHTS.

3. KEYSER SAID THE US EMBASSY HAVE DECIDED THE PRESENTATION OF LISTS (PARTICULARLY WHEN THE NAMES ARE NOT WELL-AUTHENTICATED) SERVES LITTLE PURPOSE. KIMMITT EXPLAINED IN MORE GENERAL TERMS WHAT THE US WANTED. KIMMITT SAID THAT PEOPLE IN SOME AREAS WERE OF GREATER CONCERN :

(A) THE RELATIVES OF CHINESE IN THE US WHO WERE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO LEAVE DESPITE THE FORMER BEING THEMSELVES INNOCENT OF ANY WRONGDOING.

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