TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 209

3/92 16:51

202 898 4255

BRITISH EM WASH →→→ FCO COMCE N

002/003

British Embassy Washington

6 May 1992

T Furness Esq.

Hong Kong Department FCO

(BY FAX)

3100 Massachu ets Ave N.W.

Washington D. 1. 10008-3600

Telephone: (2 )2.

Telex: RCA 211427 o 216760-WUI 64224 Facsimile: (2) 2) 898-1255

New Zim,

CHINA'S MFN STATUS: CALENDAR OF EVEN IS

Your timetable looks

1. Thank you for your letter of 30 April about right. I have the following suggestions:

(i)

Unless

Para 2. I suggest you re-iraft this as follows "Congress can attempt to overturn MFN status at any time. the Chinese do something particularly heinous (such as supply missiles to Syria or Pakistan) this is unlikely to be successful. In the past, Congress has preferred to try to attach conditions for MFN renewal. They could, in theory, do so at any time, but have usually tried to do so for the annual Juna renewal".

(ii) New entry for 18 March should read "Senat: voted (60-38) to override the President's veto, but failed to obtain the two thirds majority necessary".

(iii) Your entry for 3 June should read "the President must decide before 3 June on MFN for the period 3 July 1992 - 3 July 1993".

(iv) Your entry for July/1ugust delete (see below).

(v) Your entry for 31 August should read "if Congress wishes to challenge the President's reneval of MFN, it may do so by introducing a Joint Resolution of D.sapproval (JRD), before 31 August. The JRD is subject to Pres dential veto and Corgress has only 15 days to override it.

(vi) July/August. Although the Congress can introduce bills setting conditions for renewal at any time, they are most likely to do so during the debate on renewal in July/Auçust. bills will work their way through Congress in the usual way (i.e.

These