CONFIDENTIAL
MDHOAN
BE BAD NEWS FOR HONG KONG. THERE WOULD BE DOUBT AS TO WHETHER CHINA WOULD ACCEPT THEM, WHETHER CHINA COULD MEET THEM AND WHAT FURTHER CONDITIONS MIGHT BE IMPOSED IN LATER YEARS. THE RESULTING UNCERTAINTY WOULD BE A MAJOR DISINCENTIVE TO INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG.
I BELIEVE THAT BOTH THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THOSE IN CHINA COMMITTED TO THE POLICY OF OPENING OUT TO THE WEST, AND THE HONG KONG POINTS I HAVE SET OUT ABOVE, OUTWEIGH THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST RENEWAL OR FOR CONDITIONAL RENEWAL.
OUR EMBASSY AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE LOBBYING ON THE HILL, ESPECIALLY WITH SENATORS, FOR A FAVOURABLE CONGRESSIONAL VOTE. AND I WOULD BE HAPPY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO DRAW ON THE CONTENTS OF THIS LETTER IF IT WOULD HELP.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS MORE WE CAN USEFULLY DO TO BRING
ABOUT A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE.
ENDS
HURD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
73
MAIN
73
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
NAD
JOINT DIRECTORATE
RAD NEWS D
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
EAPD/ODA
SIR J COLES
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
MR BAYNE
ERD
MR MILES
ESAU
MR BURNS
ESED
NNNN
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
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