TNAG-2469-FCO40-3593-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 25

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MOLIAN 0587

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WASHING ON

TO PRIORITY FCO

PELNO 2693

CF 090015Z DECEMBER 92

AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR

-ONG KONG: COMMENTS BY GOVERNOR CLINTON

1 ON 8 DECEMBER, IN AN ADDRESS TO THE MANAGEMENT OF GANNETT COMMUNICATIONS, GOVERNOR CLINTON RESPONDED TO A QUESTION ON HONG KONG AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA AS FOLLOWS QUOTE ... IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE AMERICANS THAN BRITISH CITIZENS LIVING THERE (VIZ HONG KONG) THE LEGALITY OF THE SITUATION IS STILL A MATTER BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE. I THINK IT IS CLEAR FROM THE ACTIVITIES IN CHINA IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT THE CHINESE CESPERATELY WANT TO MAINTAIN THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF HONG KONG.

2.

NOW I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY REALLY CAN'T MAINTAIN IT UNLESS THEY ALSO MAINTAIN A LARGE RANGE OF PERSONAL FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND HUMAN WHAT IT CAN GIVEN

RIGHTS. AND I THINK THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MATTER BETWEEN BRITAIN LAST ANALYSIS, TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND PERSONAL FREEDOMS WILL BE OBSERVED MOVING TOWARD 1997 AND BEYOND. AFTER JANUARY THE 20TH I MAY WANT TO SAY MORE.

AND CHINA, IN THE

3. THIS IS A MATTER OF REAL CONCERN TO ME, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN HONG KONG BUT FOR THE ROLE THAT HONG KONG PLAYS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. I'VE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES. BUT I, LIKE YOU, AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD IN THE EVENTS OF THE -AST FEW DAYS AND I HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN PLAY A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN RELIEVING THOSE TENSIONS AND UNQUOTE.

RENWICK

THOSE CONCERNS.

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