TNAG-2750-FCO40-3965-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1993 — Page 115

HKB 09111

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

12 MAY 1993

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTES OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR

AND SPEAKER FOLEY ON 5 MAY 1993

Present:

Speaker Foley

Governor

HMA Sir R. Renwick

Barrie Wiggham

PS/GH

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The Governor thanked Speaker Foley for giving him the time for

the meeting. He said he was grateful for the access given to him

for his current visit to Washington. He was aware that the US

Administration and Congress were trying to work out arrangements on

MFN.

His feeling was

was that the US did not want MFN to be the

centre of affairs between the US Administration and the Congress.

2.

Speaker Foley said the change of the Administration had been

a factor. He had detected that the two parties in Congress were

beginning to have a coalition on MFN. The Democrats were outraged

by human rights issues in China and the Republicans many of whom

were Taiwan sympathisers, probably wanted to have a go at China

using the MFN vehicle. Personally he would support free trade.

He also considered that the President would not want to veto a bill

jointly supported by the House and Senate.

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