TNAG-2609-FCO40-3800-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 45

Me Woodrow

CONFIDENTIAL

Mclubetto, th

Thakingon. The Severting

Stato angges

Mr Jam

người

PS/Mr, Goodlad

Private Secretary

Ay916.

Secreta

Seanting & State

₤10 JUN 1992

FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 9 June 1992

cc: Sir J Coles

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Cornish,

HKD 021/2

News Department

Mr Pellew, NAD

avee. It is not always

easy to prise the bit Iron between fr Adley's telt.

62

ZOB

THE MCCONNELL BILL

Α

Problem

1. Mr Robert Adley MP recently spoke to the Secretary of State about the concern expressed to him by the Chinese Ambassador over the McConnell Bill, and has offered to put down a PQ in the House of Commons to enable us to show the

Chinese that the Bill was not inspired by us.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Secretary of State does not take up Mr Robert Adley's offer and that we rest on what we have said privately to the Chinese.

Background and argument

3. The McConnell Bill on US/Hong Kong relations seeks to harness congressional interest in Hong Kong in a way that is meant to be helpful, bolstering Hong Kong's autonomy under the Joint Declaration. It also provides a legal framework

for the US to continue to deal with Hong Kong as a separate

entity after 1997. The Chinese regard the Bill as interference, and have urged us to speak out against it.

JH2AFG/1

SLM

CONFIDENTIAL

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