TNAG-2350-FCO40-3419-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--China-and-the-USA-1991 — Page 16

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MDHIAN 8704

THAT FOR A LONG TIME AFTER 1997 HONG KONG MIGHT PRACTICE CAPITALISM WHILST CHINA CONTINUES WITH SOCIALISM.

5. IT WILL NOT HELP OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA, SUPPOSEDLY ENJOYING A RENAISSANCE AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT, IF WE ARE OPENLY LINKED WITH AN AMERICAN BILL WHICH THE CHINESE WILL SEE AS A BLATANT ATTEMPT AT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN HONG KONG. FOR THIS REASON WE AGREE WITH TUR THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US OR FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO BE CAUGHT OUT GIVING COMMENTS OR DRAFTING SUGGESTIONS TO THE AMERICANS. WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY HOWEVER IN HKG POINTING OUT, WITHOUT COMMENT, ANY DISCREPANCIES WHICH MAY EXIST BETWEEN THE BILL'S REFERENCES TO OR QUOTATIONS FROM THE JD, AND THE JD ITSELF.

MCLAREN.

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

60

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

. (RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

PUSD

HD/FED

NEWS D

ADDITIONAL

4

DISTRIBUTION

64

PLANNERS

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS NEVILLE-JONES CAB OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO.10

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