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APPLY TO CHINA BY NAME, OR TO "STATES," "COUNTRIES," OR SIMILAR
TERMS. THESE STATUTES, WHICH INCLUDE THE JACKSON-VANIK
PROVISIONS AND THE CURRENT CHINA SANCTIONS LEGISLATION, COULD
REQUIRE THE IMPOSITION ON HONG KONG OF RESTRICTIONS AND
DISABILITIES THAT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR DESIRE TO
RESPECT HONG KONG'S PROMISED AUTONOMY.
WE THEREFORE WOULD WELCOME A BILL THAT ESTABLISHES CLEARLY
THE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO TREAT HONG
KONG, WHERE APPROPRIATE, AS A NON-SOVEREIGN ENTITY WHICH IS
DISTINCT FROM THE PRC FOR PURPOSES OF U.S. DOMESTIC LAW. SUCH
A BILL WOULD BE IN FULL KEEPING WITH OUR INTENT AS ONE OF HONG
KONG'S MAJOR PARTNERS TO ASSIST THE U.K. AND CHINA IN ACHIEVING
THE GOALS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
ON THE QUESTION OF REPORTS, WE RECOGNIZE CONGRESS'
LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG AS THE
TRANSITION PROGRESSES. INDEED, IT IS OUR INTENTION TO CLOSELY
MONITOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE TRANSITION PROCESS. HOWEVER, WE
BELIEVE ANY FORMAL REPORTING WOULD BEST FOCUS ON U.S. INTERESTS
IN HONG KONG AND CHANGES WHICH RESULT FROM THE TERRITORY'S
REVERSION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY THAT MAY AFFECT OUR
INTERESTS. LET ME POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY POSSIBLE
CHANGES RESULTING FROM HONG KONG'S REVERSION TO THE PRC OF
CONCERN TO U.S. INTERESTS WHICH GO BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE 1984
WE ASSUME THAT CONGRESS WOULD WANT US TO
JOINT DECLARATION.
REPORT ON SUCH MATTERS.