TNAG-2609-FCO40-3800-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 49

C

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM WASHINGTON

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER NFR

OF 282305Z MAY 92

AND TO TELELETTER HONG KONG, PEKING

FROM: SD PATTISON, WASHINGTON

TO:

ако 2

0001/2

PS RICKETTS ESQ HONG KONG DEPT, FCO

-/

CC: S BRADLEY ESQ., HONG KONG

CHANCERY PEKING

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D

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046726

MDTTAN 9747

ہوتا

291

کات

My Wosotrow 16

US/HONG KONG POLICY ACT

·

1 LATE ON 21 MAY THE SENATE PASSED THE MCCONNELL BILL (OUR TELNO 1017). MY HILL CONTACTS TELL ME THAT ONLY A FEW SENATORS WERE PRESENT, AND THE BILL WAS PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION, AND WITHOUT A RECORDED VOTE.

2.

.

THE FOCUS IS NOW ON THE HOUSE. ALTHOUGH THE BILL HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THREE HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEES, THE PRIME MOVER IS CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ. HIS STAFFERS HAVE PROPOSED SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE BILL. THEY WOULD REDUCE THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE I TO A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF US SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG, AND RE-DRAFT TITLE II TO CHANGE THE MECHANISM BY WHICH US LAWS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997. (AS CURRENTLY DRAFTED THE BILL SAYS THAT LAWS WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE UNLESS THE PRESIDENT DECIDES OTHERWISE, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION (WITH THE SUPPORT OF SOLARZ'S STAFFERS), WOULD PREFER THE BILL TO SAY THAT ONLY THOSE LAWS WHICH THE PRESIDENT SO DETERMINES WOULD REMAIN IN FORCE.) THE MODIFICATIONS, WOULD, HOWEVER, LEAVE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT UNTOUCHED (I.E. THE HOUSE WOULD ACCEPT THE SENATE VERSION COUR

TELNO 1017).

3.

THE

ONCE THE HOUSE AGREES ITS VERSION, THIS WILL NEED TO BE RECONCILED WITH SENATE'S VERSION AT A HOUSE/SENATE CONFERENCE. TIMETABLE IS NOT CLEAR. SOLARZ IS PREOCCUPIED WITH HIS OWN ELECTORAL BATTLES IN NEW YORK. NEVERTHELESS HIS STAFFERS ARE

CONFIDENT THAT THE FINAL BILL WILL BE PASSED BY THE 4 JULY RECESS.

MY ADMINISTRATION CONTACTS HAVE BEEN SURPRISED AT THE LACK OF

CHINESE REACTION TO THE BILL'S ADOPTION BY THE SENATE. THEY HAVE

4.

1

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