TNAG-2243-FCO40-3224-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 36

1

From: M V Stone

Secretam of State

Hong Kong Department

Date: 11 June 1991

&f

137

CC:

Sir J Coles

Mr

Cox

Mr Burns

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Burns, NAD

mail e 1/6

PS/Lord Caithness

Private Secretary

0904

Agnew

Drulb

HONG KONG: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA

A 1. The Secretary of State has agreed to send a message to

Secretary Baker on Hong Kong and the MFN question. I submit a draft to be passed on by the Embassy. Hong Kong and Washington support this approach and have agreed the draft

letter as now amended. Washington recommend that it should

issue without further ado.

B C

2. Sir A Acland proposes to write this week to a cross- section of Congressmen on the issue. Congress is likely to vote on MFN in the first half of July and the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on 12 June.

3.

With regard to a Prime Ministerial intervention, Washington also favour circulating a statement from the Prime Minister (as he discussed with President Bush), perhaps in the form of a response to an inspired PQ. Washington recommend that this would best issue shortly

BATALQ/1

TG