TNAG-2244-FCO40-3225-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 18

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MDHIAN 2

VERY IMPORTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN MANAGING THE POLITICAL PROBLEM IN THE U S. THE ONE THING WHICH WOULD REALLY HAVE HELPED WOULD HAVE BEEN CHINESE AGREEMENT TO JOINT INVESTIGATIONS BY THE TWO CUSTOMS SERVICES OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS. BAKER HAD ACCORDINGLY PRESSED HARD FOR THIS BUT THE CHINESE HAD REFUSED. THEY HAD HOWEVER SHOWED WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE ON THE OTHER ISSUES TO WHICH THE US ATTACHED IMPORTANCE AND THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING INCLUDED SATISFACTORY PROVISIONS IN THE AREAS LISTED BY BAKER, AND HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE. THE EMBASSY HAD OBTAINED SOME FURTHER DETAILED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TEXT AFTER BAKER'S DEPARTURE. THERE WAS ALSO A PRIVATE UNDERSTANDING, WHICH WOULD NOT BE PUBLICISED, THAT THE CHINESE WOULD FACILITATE VISITS BY MEMBERS OF THE US EMBASSY TO PRISONS WHERE SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE.

OTHER ISSUES.

15. ROY SAID THAT THE VISIT WAS UNUSUAL FOR ITS CONCENTRATION ON MAJOR BILATERAL ISSUES: THERE WAS NO TIME FOR THE NORMAL TOUR D'HORIZON OF INTERNATIONAL TOPICS. IT WAS NOTABLE THAT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SOVIET UNION WERE NOT MENTIONED BY EITHER SIDE.

BUT A NUMBER OF OTHER QUESTIONS WERE TOUCHED ON BRIEFLY:

(A) BURMA. THE AMERICANS ASKED FOR CHINA'S HELP IN PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES TO RELEASE AUNG SAN SUUCHI. THE CHINESE EXPRESSED GENERAL SYMPATHY, SAYING THAT THEY WERE UNCERTAIN OF SUUCHI'S POSITION BUT THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

(B) ARMS CONTROL:

(1) CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THE CHINESE EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH THE US IN PREVENTING THE PROLIFERATION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND GAVE DETAILS OF THE STRICT CONTROLS WHICH THEY SAID THEY ENFORCED ON THE PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF CHEMICAL PRECURSORS. THEY ALSO GAVE ASSURANCES ABOUT CHEMICALS ON LISTS 2 AND 3.

(2) BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. THE CHINESE SAID THAT THEY HAD ACCEDED TO THE CONVENTION, RESTATED THEIR POLICY IN FAMILIAR TERMS AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF ANY CHINESE EXPORTS IN THIS AREA.

(C) KOREA. THE CHINESE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANTED A NUCLEAR FREE KOREA AND WERE PREPARED TO WORK FOR IT. THEY URGED THE AMERICANS TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH KOREANS, SO AS TO ALLAY NORTH KOREAN CONCERNS. BUT THEY ACCEPTED THAT THE NEW U S POLICY AND THE RECENT STATEMENT BY THE SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT HAD CREATED CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WOULD FACILITATE PROGRESS. BAKER SAID THAT THE

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