TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 144

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1070

OF 071638Z JUL 92

INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PEKING

(32

133

MB 0912

سیم

pw R. Leglo

002115

MDHOAN 7003

YOUR TELNOS 1812 AND 1816: CHINA S MFN STATUS: LEGCO DEBATE

1. WE AGREE THAT THIS IS A THOROUGHLY ILL TIMED AND UNHELPFUL

DEBATE. THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY TO SEE THE UDHK AMENDMENT AS PART

OF A PLOT TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM OVER HUMAN RIGHTS. IT WILL BE

DIFFICULT TO AVOID OFFENDING EITHER CHINA OR SOME IN CONGRESS.

2. WE AGREE ON BALANCE WITH YOUR JUDGEMENT THAT OFFICIALS SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THE UDHK AMENDMENT. IN MAKING CLEAR WHY THEY ARE DOING SO WE SUGGEST THEY CONCENTRATE, AS YOU SUGGEST, ON THE POINT THAT TRADE MATTERS SHOULD NOT BE LINKED WITH OTHER ISSUES. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO GET ACROSS THE POINT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NOT/NOT VOTING AGAINST THE IDEA OF HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN CHINA,BUT AGAINST THE FACT THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD IN EFFECT IMPOSE CONDITIONS.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

146

.HUMAN RIGHTS

HKD

HRPU

LEGAL ADVISERS

INFO D

CSCE UNIT

ECD (E)

CFSP UNIT

FED

MED

NAD

DISTRIBUTION

146

APD

ECFAD/ODA

PS

PAGE

PS/MR HOGG

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/PUS

MR LOGAN

SIR J COLES

MR ELLIOTT

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CONFIDENTIAL