RESTRICTED
HKD 021/2
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 787
OF 092343Z APRIL 92
чв
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
23
24
072005
MDHIAN 0019
TOP COPY Q DIST?
pa
OUR TELNO 732: US/HONG KONG: THE MCCONNELL BILL
SUMMARY
1.
MCCONNELL TELLS HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE THAT HE IS PREPARED TO AMEND THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT IF THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. STATE EXPECT SUBSTANTIAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH MCCONNELL AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THEY WILL BRIEF US IF AND WHEN A TEXT EMERGES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CAN SUPPORT.
DETAIL
2. ON 9 APRIL THREE HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEES, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SOLARZ (ASIA AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE) HELD A JOINT HEARING ON US POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG, FOCUSSING ON THE MCCONNELL BILL, AND THE EQUIVALENT BILL INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE BY CONGRESSMAN PORTER.
3=
TESTIFYING BEFORE THE SUB-COMMITTEES, MCCONNELL DESCRIBED THE EXTENSIVE US ECONOMIC INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT HONG KONG'S STATUS IN US LAW WOULD NOT CHANGE AFTER 1997. THE INTENTION OF HIS BILL WAS TO EXPRESS US INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE, AND SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THE BILL WOULD ENABLE THE US TO EXTEND TO HONG KONG THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THE TERRITORY HAD BEEN PROMISED UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION. THE MORE THE US RESPECTED HONG KONG'S AUTONOMY UP TO 1997, THE LESS CHINA WOULD TAKE AFFRONT AFTER 1997. HE HOPED THAT HIS BILL WOULD BOOST CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND STEM EMIGRATION.
4.
SIMILAR POINTS WERE MADE BY CONGRESSMAN PORTER. HE SAID THAT UNLESS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR HONG KONG, THE EXPORT OF SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY (SUCH AS DUAL USE COMPUTERS) CURRENTLY DENIED TO CHINA, WOULD ALSO BE DENIED TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997. PORTER SAID CHINA SHOULD HAVE NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT THE LEGISLATION. THE BILL KEPT TO THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
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