TNAG-2750-FCO40-3965-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1993 — Page 94

CONFIDENTIAL

FM WASHINGTON

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO

1044

OF 080025Z MAY 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 091/1

RECE!

GISTRY

18 MAY 1993

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

AND IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR

81

042125

MDHIAN 0277

مام

pa MFN fite plo ра

G.

FROM GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG (VISITING)

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH

MY VISIT TO WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK:

OVERVIEW

1. I VISITED WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK FROM 2 MAY TO 8 MAY. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME ARRANGED FOR ME BY THE EMBASSY, THE CONSULATE-GENERAL AND OUR TWO HONG KONG OFFICES IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND THE HAPPY TIMING OF MY VISIT I WAS GRANTED EXTRAORDINARY ACCESS TO KEY DECISION-MAKERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, AND GIVEN A NUMBER OF USEFUL PLATFORMS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WASHINGTON, TO MAKE OUR CASE ON MFN.

2.

IN THE ADMINISTRATION, IN ADDITION TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WHARTON CIN CHRISTOPHER'S ABSENCE IN EUROPE), LORD, BERGER, RUBIN AND BENTSEN AND, IN CONGRESS, FOLEY, ROSTENKOWSKI, HAMILTON, MITCHELL, MCCONNELL, PELOSI, BAUCUS, PORTER, BRADLEY, ROBB (AND HIS SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS SUB COMMITEE) AND ACKERMAN CAND HIS HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE).

3.

THIS LEVEL OF INTEREST IN HONG KONG WAS DUE PARTLY TO OUR

CURRENT ARGUMENT WITH CHINA. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ALSO (AND

STILL IS) RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO WORK OUT ITS POLICY ON

MFN FOR CHINA. HENCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GETTING OVER TO THEM AND

CONGRESS THE HARMFUL IMPACT ON HONG KONG OF WITHDRAWAL OR SERIOUS

CONDITIONING OF MFN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER TIMED. OF POSSIBLY GREATER LONG-TERM SIGNIFICANCE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO SEEKING TO PUT MFN INTO THE CONTEXT OF A WIDER OVERALL FRAMEWORK OF POLICY TOWARDS CHINA SO THAT THE ANNUAL MEN REVIEW CYCLE BECOMES LESS OF AN OBSESSIVE FOCUS OF ATTENTION IN THE FUTURE. I DID WHAT I COULD

TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION IN THIS DIRECTION.

4.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF MY VARIOUS MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SENT SEPARATELY. IT IS PRETTY CLEAR FROM THOSE MEETINGS THAT THE

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