TNAG-2750-FCO40-3965-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1993 — Page 327

RESTRICTED

046752

MDTTAN 4282

9. BUT PELOSI'S STAFF HAVE TOLD ME THAT SHE AND SENATOR MITCHELL (THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER) ARE STILL DISCUSSING HOW TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE. NEITHER WISHES TO SEE CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION AT LOGGERHEADS OVER IT. BUT THEY THINK THAT IF A BILL WERE INTRODUCED INTO CONGRESS, IT COULD STRENGTHEN CLINTON'S HAND IN TRYING TO EXTRACT CONCESSIONS FROM THE CHINESE. THEY HOPE TO TALK ABOUT TACTICS WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION FAIRLY SOON.

10.

NEEDLESS TO SAY I WENT OVER THE HONG KONG ARGUMENTS WITH PELOSI'S STAFFERS. THEY WERE SYMPATHETIC, AND CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO DAMAGE HONG KONG, AND THAT THE CONDITIONS THEY HAD PROPOSED IN THE PAST HAD BEEN ONES FOR CHINA OUGHT EASILY TO BE

ABLE TO MEET.

SIGNED S D PATTISON

YYYY

MAIN

SINGLE COPIES

HKD//P RICKETTS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

1

PAGE

4

RESTRICTED

}