TNAG-2609-FCO40-3800-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 99

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4.

THE AMENDED VERSION ALSO CALLS FOR A REPORT ON HONG KONG TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE REPORTS ON GLOBAL ISSUES, (IE THE ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT).

5. ALSO ON 7 MAY SOLARZ HELD A HEARING ON THE HOUSE EQUIVALENT OF

THE MCCONNELL BILL (INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN PORTER). TESTIFYING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION SOLOMON (STATE) ECHOED HIS EARLIER TESTIMONY TO THE SENATE (OUR TELNO 732). HE REITERATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED THE GOALS OF THE BILL, AND WANTED TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON IT. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT THINK IT APPROPRIATE TO REPORT SPECIFICALLY ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JD WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ASSESS. AMERICA'S CONCERNS ABOUT

HONG KONG RANGED WIDER THAN THE ISSUES COVERED BY THE JD.

6. SOLOMON WARNED CONGRESS NOT TO WITHDRAW MEN FROM CHINA. THIS WOULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, AND BE AT ODDS WITH CONGRESS' APPARENT CONCERN TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG.

7. SOLOMON PAID TRIBUTE TO LORD WILSON'S ROLE AS GOVERNOR, SAYING THAT HE HAD DONE MUCH TO ENSURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG

KONG. MR PATTEN'S EXCELLENT CREDENTIALS WOULD HELP HIM TO MEET

THE CHALLENGES WHICH LAY AHEAD.

COMMENT

8. STATE HAVE TOLD US THAT THE AMENDED SENATE BILL REFLECTS THE

SUGGESTIONS THEY HAD PASSED TO MCCONNELL'S STAFF. THEY EXPECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT ALTHOUGH THEY WILL NEED TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE TEXT. PERITO (DIRECTOR CHINA OFFICE, STATE) EXPLAINED THAT THEIR MAIN OBJECTIVE HAD BEEN TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A REPORT ON THE JD, AND TO LENGTHEN THE INTERVAL BETWEEN REPORTS. UNDER THE NEW BILL THERE WOULD BE REPORT PER CONGRESSIONAL SESSION, WHICH OUGHT NOT TO CAUSE TOO MUCH TROUBLE. HE SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO DROP ANY REFERENCE TO A REPORT ON DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN THE ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT IN ANY CASE.

9. THE NEXT STAGE IS FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS TO GO TO THE FLOOR, AND FOR ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM TO BE RECONCILED IN A SENATE/HOUSE CONFERENCE. MCCONNELL (AND HIS CO-SPONSOR, SIMONS) ARE KEEN TO MOVE QUICKLY AND A VOTE IN THE SENATE IS LIKELY SOON, POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS THE EVENING ON 7 MAY. HAVING TALKED TO KEY PLAYERS IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE, THE ADMINISTRATION ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN KEEP OUT ANY FURTHER ROGUE AMENDMENTS.

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