TNAG-2608-FCO40-3799-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 71

RESPONSIBILITIES NOW.

- 4

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, HONG KONG WILL ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF

AUTONOMY IN ALL OTHER MATTERS. THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, OR SAR, WILL HAVE ITS OWN GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE

COMPOSED OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND

FREEDOMS OF ITS RESIDENTS ARE TO BE ENSURED BY LAW, AND

INDEPENDENT COURTS WILL ENFORCE THESE LAWS.

CHINA'S SOCIALIST

HONG KONG WILL SYSTEM WILL NOT BE IMPOSED IN HONG KONG. CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AFTER 1997 IN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

AND ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE OPEN TO NON-STATES, SUCH AS THE

GATT AND APEC.

THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A PARTY TO THE JOINT DECLARATION,

NOR ARE WE IN ANY SENSE A GUARANTOR.

THE U.S. HAS NO SPECIAL

STANDING IN REGARD TO THE AGREEMENT: ORDINARILY IN

INTERNATIONAL LAW, STATES DO NOT TAKE FORMAL POSITIONS ON

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THEY ARE NOT A PARTY.

HOWEVER, THE U.S. STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT

DECLARATION AND ITS OBJECTIVES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE JOINT

DECLARATION PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S

SEPARATE

AND INCREASINGLY DEMOCRATIZED

POLITICAL SYSTEM

AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ECONOMY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

OUR INTEREST OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS THAT THE TRANSITION

FROM BRITISH TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY BE SMOOTH, THAT HONG KONG'S

CURRENT PROSPERITY AND FAVORABLE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION