TNAG-2750-FCO40-3965-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1993 — Page 142

BRIT EMB WASHINTON 1

THU 06 MAY 93 15:05

PG.04

प

whose views were stronger than theirs and had thought

that he and Pelosi were not tough enough. He envisaged that he

would have a hard time limiting the conditions on arms sales and

trade. Quite a number of Congressman who had backed up President

Bush in vetoing the previous bill had now said that they were

extremely uncomfortable with what they had done as well as with the

current situation. He accepted the point made by the Governor that

communication with

China would

be

maintaining a dialogue and

useful. There was substantial support for his bill in Congress.

He hoped that between now and June the President would be able to

persuade China to make some improvement. Recently China had been

buying big in US, but China might only be accelerating what she

would normally buy in the course of this year thus the total trade

deficit situation with China for this year might still be the same,

4. The Governor also asked the Senator on the extent of support

among Congressmen for an executive led rather than Capitol led MFN

policy this year. Senator Mitchell replied that this would not

matter as long as the policy was effective.

the senate yet.

He had not sounded out