23
CONFIDENTIAL
HICC 012/4
RECEIVER
TO APR 1993
DESK CER
INDEX
PA
REGISTR
TOP COPY
Q
Action Tak DIST?
166017
MDHOAN 1760
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FM FCO
TELNO 232
OF 161523Z APRIL 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER CHINESE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JARDINES
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Also see 22
(19)
SIR CHARLES POWELL HAS WRITTEN TO HKD OUTLINING SOME OF THE EVIDENCE OF A CHINESE BAN ON BUSINESS WITH JARDINES AND ASKING THAT WE RAISE THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORTHCOMING TALKS
ON HONG KONG (COPY BY FAX TO COX, PEKING, EHRMAN, HONG KONG AND WRIGHT UKREP BRUSSELS). HE HAS SPOKEN TO AMBASSADOR MA ABOUT THIS BUT MA SIMPLY UNDERTOOK TO REPORT.
2. WE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE THE JARDINES PROBLEMS AN ISSUE IN THE TALKS ABOUT ELECTORAL MATTERS. BUT THE EVIDENCE OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A BRITISH BUSINESS IS NOW COMPELLING AND MINISTERS AND THE GOVERNOR AGREE THAT WE MUST TAKE IT UP WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ARRANGE FOR THE EMBASSY (AT A LEVEL YOU JUDGE APPROPRIATE) TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH MOFTEC. YOU MAY FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE BEST DONE BELOW YOUR LEVEL TO EMPHASISE THE SEPARATION FROM THE TALKS ON HONG KONG. YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
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WE WERE CONCERNED BY THE REMARKS BY LI LANQING AND BY QIAN QICHEN DURING THE NPC FORESHADOWING DAMAGE TO ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA.
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WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH CERTAIN BRITISH
COMPANIES.
THIS IS A MATTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO HMG. IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP OF GATT. WE ARE SURPRISED BY IT GIVEN THE INTEREST OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES IN DEVELOPING TRADE, AND GIVEN CHINA'S LARGE TRADE SURPLUS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.
WE HOPE THAT THIS POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION WILL CEASE
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