TNAG-2608-FCO40-3799-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 101

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EVERYONE INCLUDING THE CHINESE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.

5.

-

HAD AN INTEREST IN ENSURING

ON THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT, PORTER AT FIRST SOUGHT TO JUSTIFY IT ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE WAS NO ENFORCEMENT MACHINERY IN THE

JOINT DECLARATION. CHINA COULD - IN EFFECT DO WHAT IT WANTED AFTER 1997. SOLARZ (CHAIRMAN) NOTED THAT IT MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT TO COVER BROADER US INTERESTS IN HONG KONG (THE ECONOMY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND DEMOCRACY) RATHER THAN FOCUS NARROWLY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JD. MCCONNELL SAID THAT IF THE BILL WERE TO ATTRACT A VETO BECAUSE OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT, HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO DROP IT ALTOGETHER. BUT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC OF WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO MODIFY THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A TEXT THAT WOULD ENJOY BROAD SUPPORT.

6.

SOLARZ ASKED WHETHER MCCONNELL HAD DISCUSSED HIS BILL WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. MCCONNELL SAID HE HAD NOT. NOR HAD HE DISCUSSED IT WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.

COMMENT

7. THIS HEARING REINFORCED THE CONCLUSION OF LAST WEEK'S SENATE HEARING (TUR) THAT, WHILE THERE IS GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE BILL, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT REPORTING REQUIREMENT. A REPORT ON US/HONG KONG RELATIONS WOULD ENJOY MORE SUPPORT THAN A REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JD. STATE HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY EXPECT SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ON A REVISED TEXT WITH MCCONNELL AFTER HIS RETURN FROM HONG KONG CAT THE END OF THIS MONTH). THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO BRIEF US IF AND WHEN THEY REACH AGREEMENT ON A TEXT WITH MCCONNELL.

RENWICK

YYYY

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