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Transcript of CS's media session
Following is the transcript of the remarks made to reporters by the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, on her return from the United States this (Sunday) evening:
CS: Hello everyone. Very happy to see you all. I've been away for three weeks, really far too long. But this trip has taken me to seven cities in the United States and it's generally given me a very good opportunity to bring people up-to-date on where we currently stand, how we're preparing for the transition and what the future holds for us. Particularly in Washington I've been able to follow up on the Governor's visit some six weeks ago and specifically to address our concerns on MFN extension for China, to emphasise how important this is for us. In Washington I met with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, his deputy Strobe Talbott, and his assistant Mr Winston Lord. I also met with the National Security Advisor Mr Anthony Lake and with the Secretary for the Treasury Mr Rubin. In addition I also met with key members of the House and Senate including Senator William Roth who is Chairman of the Finance Committee, the new Senate Majority Leader Mr Trent Lott and various other key officials, not only to lobby for MFN extension for China but also to discuss the prospects for permanent MFN for China, to bring senior officials and members of the House and Senate up-to-date on transition and to address specific concerns that people have had. In other cities I've also met with local government leaders, with business leaders and in Los Angeles I was particularly glad to have the opportunity to meet with many people from Hong Kong.
This has on the whole been a very worthwhile visit. As I've said, it's not only enabled us to talk about how we're preparing for the transition, it's clearly helped to strengthen our business links, to promote more cultural links and also to speak specifically to academics and members of think tank who of course have a great deal of interest in what's happening in Hong Kong. Secretary Christopher particularly reaffirmed the United States' enduring interest in Hong Kong, their interest in seeing a smooth transition and seeing a smooth implementation of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
I've on this occasion been able to on the one hand address the positive aspects of our transition and about the future, in particular to draw attention to how much has been achieved in the last 12 years on implementing the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. But of course at the same time as the Governor found on his previous visit, I've also had to address specific concerns put. to me about the transition in particular centring around China's threat to put in place a provisional legislature, the scepticism over whether China will protect human right including press freedom. I think on the one hand whilst it is possible to be positive about the future we also have to acknowledge that there are problems. I've tried to point out where these problems are and I've said that of course in many instances in the final analysis the reassurances that the people of Hong Kong are looking for and our trading partners particularly in the United States are looking for must come from China.