(PM's Internew with USA Today)
HONG KONG
RECI
Mil3 3011
file
Pr. Medings,
Hi B 301 her ins Swird, wwd)
-9 FEB 1303
Zalety
MK)
The agreement we have with China provides that by 1997 Hong Kong will have an elected legislature. So our disagreement with China is not about the principle but about timing and details of broadening democracy. We and China both have a strong interest in seeing Hong Kong continue its success story. We want to discuss the democracy question with China
so that we can ensure as smooth a transition in 1997 as
possible.
$%
Our agreement with China
-
which is registered at the UN
says that Hong Kong's way of life will continue unchanged for
We will be working to ensure that this agreement is fully implemented.
50 years.
The US is enormously important as an economic partner for Hong Kong. You are the second largest investor as well as a large trading partner. Hong Kong lives by free trade and the best
role for the US to play is to ensure that trade continues to flow and markets remain open.
One practical step of great significance to Hong Kong would be for the US to maintain China's Most Favoured Nation status for
trade purposes. That, in practice, leaves it on a par with almost all other countries and ensures that trade involving Hong Kong will not be slashed.