260) Ele MASHINTON
THE OT ME:
CONFIDENTIAL
A PHOTO CALL WAS ARRANGED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. IN
REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE RENEWAL OF MFN AND HONG KONG'S
CONSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT,
THE PRESIDENT MADE THE FOLLOWING
STATEMENT QUOTE WE OBVIOUSLY HOPE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE MAXIMUM
GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHINESE. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TRYING
TO ISOLATE THEM. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE SUCCESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC
REFORMS.
AND THIS HAS GOT TO BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE WHOLE
WORLD IF IT IS ACCOMPANIED WITH RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR AND RESPECT
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND MOVEMENT TOWARD A MORE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME ENCOURAGING NEWS IN CHINA ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I STILL THINK THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE. BUT WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY
FINALLY WHAT THE CONDITION OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WILL BE NEXT MONTH
OR WHEN THE TIME RUNS OUT,
SECONDLY, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRACY
INTIATIVE IN HONG KONG IS A GOOD THING AND I AM ENCOURAGED THAT THE
BECAUSE IT IS AN EVOLVING SITUATION.
PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WORLDS MOST VIBRANT,
HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE
THRIVING IMPORTANT CITIES.
IT IS AN
FOR
INCREDIBLE CENTRE OF COMMERCE AND HAVEN OF OPPORTUNITIES
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM HAD NOT A THING BUT THEIR CLOTHES
ON THEIR BACK WHEN THEY CAME THERE. AND I THINK THE IDEA OF TRYING
TO KEEP IT AN OPEN AND FREE SOCIETY AFTER 1997 IS IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE CHINESE. I THINK THIS INTIATIVE IS WELL FOUNDED,
AND I SUPPORT IT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T OFFEND ANYBODY, BUT HOW CAN
THE UNITED STATES BE AGAINST DEMOCRACY? THAT IS OUR JOB AND WE
PROMOTE IT. UNQUOTE.
CONFIDENTIAL
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