CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 021/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTE Y
13 FEB 1992
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 7 February 1992
IN
miny
ZB
cc: Sir J Coles
Mr Burns
Mr Davies, FED
PS/Lord Caithness
/Lord
LORD CAITHNESS' LUNCH WITH AMBASSADOR MA:
THE MCCONNELL BILL
1.
After a visit to Hong Kong last year, Senator McConnell
introduced a Bill designed to record Congressional support for the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The Bill is well-intentioned, and largely a reiteration of the JD.
But it contains provision for an annual Report from the US
Administration. The Chinese are suspicious that it is an
attempt to internationalise the Hong Kong problem.
2.
We understand that Ambassador Ma intends to raise the
matter with Lord Caithness on 10 February and we suspect
that Qian Qichen may lobby the Secretary of State on 9 March. One of the Chinese objectives would be to press us to speak out publicly against the Bill as an unwarranted
interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs.
3. We sought the views of Washington, Peking and Hong Kong
on the line Lord Caithness should take with Ambassador Ma.
We also sought their views on the likelihood of the Bill
becoming law, and if it did so, the arguments for and
against making the kind of statement the Chinese would like
JM1ABN/1
TG
CONFIDENTIAL
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