3
5.
The Governor said he considered
it important for the US
Executive to get in to the driving seat and to help ensure that the
conditions to be imposed would be achievable.
Speaker Foley said
his assessment of the current situation was that quite a number of
would find it difficult to
congressmen
especially as
a matter
of principle.
resist legislation
There
constituency concerns to be considered.
were also strong
The situation would not
be easy but the President would have to find a compromise and
locate points of
balance.
There would be
lot a
of economic
On the other hand, a number
pressure in the forthcoming debate.
of Congressmen would also agree that MFN should not be the tool to
move China towards another policy.
6.
The Governor said generally speaking China had experienced
rapid economic developments. This would certainly exert pressure
on China to introduce political changes. Speaker Foley said the US
people always had apprehension about the Communists so they would
find it difficult not to support the spirit behind MFN legislation.
The best he could do was to manage the legislation and ensure it
would not cause harm to Hong Kong.
US Unfortunately, the
Administration had not been quite focused on these issues because
of the priority given to other issues
such
as Russia, Bosnia,
foreign policy, and the budget. He pledged that he would do his
best but the issue might easily get out of control.
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