A GROUP of Congress members has written to US President Bill Clinton to strongly oppose conditions being attached to the renewal of China's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, a top Hongkong trade official says.
Secretary for Trade and Industry Brian Chau Tak-hay said yesterday that the more than 10 members who had written the letter were Democrats from the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
The letter had been sent to an economic affairs official of the Clinton administration, Mr Chau told reporters after a Hongkong Exporters' Association luncheon meeting.
''That's good news for Hongkong and will surely benefit it,'' Mr Chau said.
Earlier, some Congress members were said to be determined to file legislation on attaching conditions that would effectively block US-China trade, even if Mr Clinton took the initiative to act tough with Beijing.
Conditions attached to MFN renewal would be a response to US concerns about human rights, arms sales and China's trade record.