TNAG-2762-FCO40-3979-Hong-Kong-Chinese-discrimination-against-UK-companies-Jardi-1993 — Page 53

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TELNO 200

OF 111743Z NOVEMBER 93

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нив 180 к

1 NOV 1993

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

PA Jardines

خ خ

050015

MDLOAN 4826

TOP COPY Q DIST?

Mr Bovel вал

리

YOUR TELNO 248: CHINESE SANCTIONS AGAINST BRITISH

FIRMS

1.

の

Following the Observer article of 7 November alleging the existence of a List of UK companies against which the Chinese intend to discriminate in retaliation over Hong Kong issues, we have agreed the following press line:

2.

Quote

We are not aware of any such list. In any case, this is all hypothetical. Not helpful to engage in such speculation. We are working hard for agreement in the talks with China on electoral arrangements in Hong Kong.

Any such discrimination would be contrary to the spirit of China's GATT application.

Unquote

When Mr Goodlad saw Ambassador Ma on 10 November, Ma denied the story and said that the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the State Council, Lu Ping, would be issuing a public denial.

3.

For your own information, the line in your para 2 is a shade too categorical, in the sense that Jardines (which is on some definitions a British company) have faced discrimination in China

a result of their public support for the Governor.

But you were certainly right to rubbish stories of a hit-list.

HURD

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