TNAG-2244-FCO40-3225-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 140

CONFIDENTIAL

FM WASHINGTON

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 1942

CONFIDENTIAL-

Мив опод

188

122250

MDLIAN 8394

5

1991

TOP COPY

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OF 2423OOZ JULY 91

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, ACTOR

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187

YOUR TELNO 1271, AND OUR TELNO 1935: US/CHINA: SENATE MFN DEBATE

SUMMARY

1. SIX OF THE SEVEN SENATORS WE LOBBIED AT THE LAST MINUTE VOTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

DETAIL

2.

OF THE SENATORS LISTED IN FIRST TUR, ONLY GARN EVENTUALLY VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE MITCHELL BILL. THE OTHERS SUPPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION. SENATOR GRASSLEY AMONG OTHERS EXPLICITLY MENTIONED THE HONG KONG ANGLE IN HIS SPEECH DURING THE DEBATE.

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COMMENT

3. MANY SENATORS DID NOT MAKE UP THEIR MINDS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. ACCORDING TO AN ASSESSMENT PREPARED BY THE HONG KONG TRADE OFFICE ON 8 JULY, NONE OF THE SEVEN SENATORS IN FIRST TUR HAD DEFINITELY COMMITTED THEMSELVES, AND THREE (JEFFORDS, LOTT AND KASTEN) WERE INCLINED TO SUPPORT MITCHELL. LAST MINUTE LOBBYING, AND THE PRESIDENT'S DETAILED RESPONSE TO THE BAUCUS LETTER (PATTISON'S TELELETTER OF 22 JULY) SEEM TO HAVE CONVINCED SENATORS THAT SETTING CONDITIONS FOR MEN RENEWAL WAS NOT THE WAY TO ADDRESS

THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA.

4. I SHALL WRITE TO THE SIX SENATORS EXPRESSING OUR THANKS.

MEYER

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