TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 230

UNCLASSIFIED

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MDHIAN 6630

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192,DIST?

UNCLASSIFIED

FM WASHINGTON

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 568

OF 130001Z MARCH 92

PEKING,

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR

8

X OUR TELNO

548

: US/CHINA: MFN: CONGRESSIONAL OVERRIDE

13/3

SUMMARY

1.

HOUSE VOTES TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENTIAL VETO OF BILL SETTING CONDITIONS FOR MEN. SENATE VOTE LIKELY NEXT WEEK, BUT THE PRESIDENT PROBABLY HAS SUFFICIENT SUPPORT IN THE SENATE TO SUSTAIN

HIS VETO.

DETAIL

2. ON 11 MARCH THE HOUSE VOTED 357-61 TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO OF A BILL SETTING CONDITIONS FOR RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MEN STATUS (TUR). THE SIZE OF THE VOTE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE 409-21 MAJORITY BY WHICH THE HOUSE PASSED THE ORIGINAL BILL LATE LAST YEAR, LARGELY BECAUSE MORE REPUBLICANS DECIDED TO STICK WITH THE PRESIDENT. NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS STILL ABOVE THE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY NEEDED TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO.

3.

SINCE THE

THE PRESIDENT'S HOPES ARE THEREFORE PINNED ON THE SENATE, WHERE A VOTE IS LIKELY NEXT WEEK (PROBABLY ON 17/18/19 MARCH). THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE OF THE SENATE MUSTERING THE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY NEEDED TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO. 25 FEBRUARY VOTE (TUR) THE RETAIL INDUSTRY HAS MOUNTED A STRONG CAMPAIGN, TARGETTED ON SPECIFIC SENATORS, AND OUR CONTACTS DO NOT EXCLUDE THAT THE PRESIDENT MIGHT DO EVEN BETTER THAN HE DID ON 25 FEBRUARY.

RENWICK

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