TNAG-2916-FCO40-4191-International-support-from-European-countries-regarding-the--1993 — Page 49

CONFIDENTIAL

STA

SECRETARY OF STATE'S CONVERSATION WITH MR KINKEL

POINTS TO MAKE

- note reports that Chancellor Kohl extended an invitation from President von Weizsaecker to President Jiang; grateful for any background on this,

hope/assume that it will not

such a visit would break the EC ban;

therefore take place unless EC ban is lifted?

particular concern for us is signal given to the Chinese in relation to our Hong Kong negotiations: EC solidarity is an important buttress to our negotiating position,

have you heard yet how the Chinese responded when Chancellor Kohl raised Hong Kong with them?

[If Kinkel suggests that the ban be lifted, eg. since President Clinton is meeting Jiang this weekend]. US position is different. The EC ban is one of only two remaining sanctions imposed after Tiananmen. China's human rights record remains lamentable. And to lift the ban while Hong Kong negotiations are so delicate would send the wrong signal.

fed13/EC.CHINA/kinkel.sp.note

CONFIDENTIAL