Christopher undecided on when to impose conditions on MFN
AMERICA'S new Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, has said he supports legislation imposing conditions on trade with China, but has made it clear that the Clinton administration is undecided on when or how to carry out such a policy.
Mr Christopher also said the new administration fully supported Governor Mr Chris Patten's democratic reform proposals, which he said were ''constructive and deserve serious consideration''.
He told American senators that President Mr Bill Clinton would support the controversial United States-Hongkong Policy act signed into law by Mr George Bush - but opposed by Beijing - which promotes a greater US role in the territory under Chinese rule.
But he stressed that while the Clinton administration backed greater democracy in Hongkong and was concerned about the welfare of Hongkong people, the current row over Mr Patten's proposals was a matter between Britain and China.
Mr Christopher's statements were contained in written answers to a wide variety of foreign policy questions submitted by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The committee - which last week approved Mr Christopher's nomination as Secretary of State - had questioned him on foreign policy issues during two days of confirmation hearings, but some senators filed additional questions on a range of subjects, including Hongkong, China, and Taiwan.