(92)
073137
MDHIAN 1650
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 091/1
RECEIVED IN
GISTRY
fa
CONFIDENTIAL
25 MAY 1993
FM HONG KONG
DESK OFFICER
TO DESKBY 20103OZ FCO
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
TELNO 811
OF 20094OZ MAY 93
REGISTRY TOP COPY
DIST?
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
MIPT: YOUR VISIT TO NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, 21 MAY: REVISED POINTS TO MAKE.
MFN.
1. THE GOVERNOR WAS MOST GRATEFUL TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR SEEING HIM DURING HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON DC IN EARLY MAY. HE WAS ALSO VERY THANKFUL TO OTHER SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS FOR MEETING HIM. AS EXPLAINED, CONTINUATION OF MFN ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG. WE WOULD STILL LIKE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL IN 1993, WITH HUMAN RIGHTS, PROLIFERATION AND OTHER CONCERNS PURSUED OUTSIDE MFN FRAMEWORK.
2. BUT IF PRESIDENT CONCLUDES THAT SOME CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE ATTACHED, HOPE THEY WILL BE SET BY EXECUTIVE NOT CONGRESS, so THAT YOU CAN KEEP CONTROL OF IMPLEMENTATION. RECOGNISE PRESSURES IN CONGRESS AND ELSEWHERE FOR TOUGH AND SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. BUT HOPE YOU CAN KEEP THEM GENERAL IN NATURE AND ACHIEVABLE, TO AVOID
STORING UP PROBLEMS FOR 1994.
3. GLAD THAT GOVERNOR'S INTERLOCUTORS, IN ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO HIS ARGUMENTS AGAINST ANY CONDITIONS RELATING TO CHINESE PERFORMANCE ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG (E.G. OUR TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS). HOPE THAT IS NOW ACCEPTED. GRATEFUL IF EMBASSY COULD BE KEPT IN PICTURE AS CONDITIONS DEVELOP.
4
NEED TO STRIKE BALANCE BETWEEN NUDGING CHINA IN RIGHT DIRECTION AND CAUSING HER TO DIG IN HEELS. GLAD THAT WINSTON LORD WAS ABLE TO VISIT CHINA TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL ADMINISTRATION'S CONCERNS. IN LONGER TERM ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO MOVE MFN AWAY FROM CENTRE OF US/CHINA POLICY DEBATE SEEMS WISE.
5. ACCEPT US ANALYSIS THAT CHINA HAS BREACHED MTCR AGREEMENT (E.G. PAKISTAN). NEED TO BE FIRM WITH CHINESE ON THIS ISSUE IN BILATERAL TALKS AND OTHER FORA. BUT HOPE YOU CAN AVOID IT
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CONFIDENTIAL
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