HONGKONG'S US business lobby will press the administration of Mr Bill Clinton to restore a full China policy and end years of piecemeal dialogue between the two nations. In his inaugural speech yesterday, Mr Lyn Edinger, the incoming chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hongkong, outlined a tough two-way agenda to promote closer co-operation between the countries. ''We would like to state in the strongest possible terms our view that Mr Clinton and his administration has an opportunity to restore what the US has not had for some time - a comprehensive and broad China policy based on a full menu of our national and regional interests. ''Virtually all of the interchanges over the last 31/2 years between the US and China have been highly focused trade negotiations: human rights-related statements on one side; sensitivity regarding sovereignty from the other side. And that's pretty much been it.'' Now the new administration had a unique opportunity to launch a re-engagement with China, and this should be exploited, he said. On its side, China would be pressed to address human rights issues and to co-operate on reducing the mounting trade deficit, he said. AmCham would lobby in Washington for unconditional Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for China, as well as a closer working relationship with Beijing, he said. ''We have taken the categorical view that MFN should be extended and with no constraints. We believe that, however well-intentioned, steps to constrain will be unfortunate. ''Our strategy in the past has been to bring our position to the attention of people on [Capitol Hill] and in the administration. This year we are going to attempt, in ways not yet defined, to document our case in more detail, demonstrating how many American jobs are linked to the bilateral relation with China.'' More and more big US multinationals were engaged in business in China, bringing links of employment and corporate development to unprecedented levels, he said. AmCham planned to harness greater corporate support from those companies, he added. ''The US has important strategic, economic and political responsibilities that require engagement with China - not as allies or ideological friends. We are not that. ''But we are two enormously important political economies who should not endlessly drift in such momentous times.'' Mr Edinger, who is regional vice-president (government relations) with Northern Telecom, makes his maiden trip to Beijing in his new Amcham capacity on Monday, along with president Frank Martin and three delegates.