TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 185

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BENEFITS WILL HELP PRESERVE AND ENHANCE U.S. COMPETITIVENESS IN

HIGH TECHNOLOGY TRADE WITH HONG KONG WITHOUT COMPROMISING

CONTROL OF SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WHICH WE EXPECT TO EXTEND BEYOND 1997. AT PRESENT, IN AREAS FROM CIVIL AVIATION TO EXTRADITION, ALMOST EVERY U.S. AGREEMENT WHICH RELATES TO HONG KONG IS ACTUALLY A U.S.-U.K. AGREEMENT APPLIED TO HONG KONG. INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRINCIPLES, SUCH AGREEMENTS WILL LAPSE WITH THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, ABSENT ANY SPECIFIC

ARRANGEMENT OTHERWISE WITH THE NEW SOVEREIGN.

UNDER

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BY BUILDING A NEW FRAMEWORK OF AGREEMENTS IN ADVANCE OF REVERSION A FRAMEWORK SPECIFICALLY ADAPTED TO HONG KONG'S SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO REPLACE THE EXISTING U.S.-U.K.

AGREEMENTS

THE UNITED STATES IS LENDING PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO

THE JOINT DECLARATION'S GOAL OF PRESERVING HONG KONG'S POSITION

AS AN AUTONOMOUS AND VITAL CENTER OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND

FINANCE.

H.R. 3522

IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT WE SUPPORT THE GOAL OF H.R. 3522 OF REVISING U.S. LAW TO ENSURE THAT U.S. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ENABLE THE U.S. TO CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH HONG KONG AFTER IT

BECOMES AN SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF