Kong Legislative Counselor Martin Lee in May at The Heritage Foundation: "That is an arbitrary number and further evidence of Britain's moral abdica- tion of the one colony that never asked for, and cannot now hope for, inde- pendence."
Brain Drain. It is not surprising therefore that the majority of London's and Beijing's pledges of concern and goodwill fall on deaf ears in Hong Kong. The territory is gripped by a serious crisis of confidence, the clearest manifes- tation of which is illustrated in the 1,000 per week exodus of Hong Kong's best and brightest citizens. The usual destinations: Australia, Canada, and the U.S.
Hong Kong's so-called "brain drain” is of course America's brain gain. The U.S. traditionally has been invigorated by infusions of energetic refugees, like Hong Kong's people, who embody the American values of industriousness, thrift, family, and education. But the American interest in this matter extends beyond accepting many more than the 9,470 Hong Kong citizens who entered the U.S. last year. It is strongly in America's interest that Hong Kong after 1997 remain economically and politically healthy. The colony must be assured of its future. Washington can play a significant role in that assurance by:
♦ ♦ Informing London and Beijing of U.S. concern about recent events in Hong Kong and of the U.S. conviction that a “stable and assured" Hong Kong is vital to the American interest in Asia. Washington should stress, moreover, that much still needs to be done to assure the territory's residents and the international community that Hong Kong's capitalist system, political freedoms, human rights, and life-style will remain intact after 1997.
◆◆Stressing to Beijing that the future of Hong Kong is an important com- ponent of Sino-American relations. Washington should call on China to give "practical assurances" to the people of Hong Kong that their freedoms and livelihood will be respected after 1997. Such assurances should include Beijing's recognition of Hong Kong's actual and potential contribution to China's modernization program and China's continued support for the territory's infrastructural development. Last year, Hong Kong accounted for a third of China's $17 billion foreign exchange earnings and 70 percent of its $3.2 billion foreign investment. Half of China's $53.2 billion exports moved through Hong Kong, easily the Chinese coast's best port. And two million Chinese work in Hong Kong plants operating on the mainland. In short: An economically vibrant Hong Kong is vital to China's continued development. Beijing should explicitly recognize this.
♦ ♦Considering carefully what the impact will be on Hong Kong if the U.S. denies China Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) trading status. Noted John Kamm, President of Hong Kong's American Chamber of Commerce, in June testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee: "Taking MFN away from China severly undercuts the American business interests in Asia and will have terrible consequences for Hong Kong.” On May 24, George Bush recommended to the U.S. Congress that it re-extend MFN status to China for another year. Such status gives China's exports to the U.S. the same treatment afforded to exports from some 178 other countries. Denying China
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