TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 140

CONFIDENTIAL

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175446 MDHIAN 0771

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1812

(ORIGINATORS CORRECTION PARA 1)

OF 06080OZ JULY 92

AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PEKING

CHINA'S MFN STATUS IN THE US: LEGCO MOTION DEBATE.

SUMMARY

1. THE CRC (CO-OPERATIVE RESOURCES CENTRE) HAVE INITIATED A MOTION DEBATE IN LEGCO ON 8 JULY 1992 ON CHINA'S MFN TRADE STATUS IN THE U.S. THE UDHK (UNITED DEMOCRATS) INTEND TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT CALLING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. THE THREE OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO WILL VOTE FOR THE MOTION AND ABSTAIN ON THE AMENDMENT.

DETAILS

2. WE HAVE BEEN LOBBYING CRC LEADERS IN RECENT WEEKS IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE THEM NOT TO INITIATE A DEBATE ON MFN IN LEGCO AT A TIME WHEN U.S. CONGRESS IS PROCESSING TWO BILLS SEEKING TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THE RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MEN TRADING STATUS. SUCH A DEBATE WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE EITHER IN HONG KONG OR IN WASHINGTON. INSTEAD, STATEMENTS MADE AND POSITIONS TAKEN DURING THE DEBATE MIGHT PROVIDE ANTI-HONG KONG AMMUNITION TO THOSE MEMBERS OF U.S. CONGRESS WHO OPPOSE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MFN.

3. DESPITE OUR LOBBYING, A CRC MEMBER HAS FORMALLY GIVEN NOTICE OF A DEBATE IN LEGCO ON 8 JULY ON THE FOLLOWING MOTION:

''THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MOST FAVOURED NATION STATUS FOR CHINA BY THE UNITED STATES: AND URGES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN VIGOROUS EFFORTS AND, WHEN NECESSARY, SEEK GREATER SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT, IN PURSUIT OF THIS GOAL''.

4. WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED FROM THE UDHK THAT THEY INTEND TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CRC MOTION, BY ADDING WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT AN APPEAL SHOULD BE MADE TO THE PRC TO IMPROVE ITS

HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. THE UDHK HAVE DECLINED TO LET US KNOW THE EXACT WORDING OF THE AMENDMENT. UNDER LEGCO STANDING ORDERS, THEY MAY GIVE NOTICE OF AN AMENDMENT AT ANY TIME BEFORE MIDNIGHT TODAY (6 JULY).

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CONFIDENTIAL