TNAG-2913-FCO40-4188-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1993 — Page 13

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FM WASHINGTON

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER NFR

HICD 021/3

OF 122252Z APRIL 93

AND TO TELELETTER HONG KONG

FROM: S D PATTISON, WASHINGTON

TO:

CC:

.193

J MORRIS ESQ., HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO CHANCERY HONG KONG

U.S./HONG KONG

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PS/GH cc Mir Hen

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152266

MDTTAN 0258

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Rich Mr whine 16/4. De Bain Rum Po 5/2014

P/W us suppet o

pa. Jiste

Gou -> Wash.

WE RECENTLY HELD ANOTHER IN OUR SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH PETER

LO AND PATRICK LAU FROM THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE TO DISCUSS PROSPECTS FOR MFN. WE AGREED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROBABLY HOPED TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON AN APPROACH WHICH WOULD

ALLOW THEM TO RENEW MFN THIS SUMMER WHILST STIPULATING CONDITIONS

FOR RENEWAL THEREAFTER. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WERE NOT YET READY

TO SAY AS MUCH IN PUBLIC. THEY WERE WORKING HARD TO WIN OVER

SUPPORT ON THE HILL.

2. ON THE HILL, WE NOTED THAT LEADING DEMOCRATS (I.E. HAMILTON) WERE ADVOCATING A MORE MODERATE APPROACH THAN THAT FAVOURED IN THE

PAST BY HARDLINERS SUCH AS PELOSI. PROVIDED THE ADMINISTRATION DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY WERE TAKING CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, FEW DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT TO EMBARRASS THEM BY TURNING

MFN INTO A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

3. WE AGREED THAT THE NEXT HIGHLIGHT IN OUR ATTEMPT TO LOBBY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT. WE WOULD CONTINUE TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS ON THE HILL. BUT, FOR THE TIME BEING, IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO SEND LETTERS (I.E. FROM THE AMBASSADOR) TO CONGRESSMEN. WE SHOULD KEEP THESE IN RESERVE IN CASE CONGRESS SOUGHT TO CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION'S EVENTUAL POLICY.

4.

P

WE ALSO DISCUSSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, ARE BEING HANDLED MOSTLY BY THE HKETO. WE HAVE PUT IN FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, SECRETARY LORD, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, AND TREASURY SECRETARY BENTSEN, AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS. HKETO ARE PURSUING ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH SEVEN KEY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, PLUS GROUP MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE ON

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