TNAG-2608-FCO40-3799-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 80

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COMMUNICATION AND OTHER RELATIONS THAT U.S. CITIZENS AND

COMPANIES NOW MAINTAIN WITH HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE, FOR MOST PURPOSES, HONG KONG IS TREATED AS A IN A FEW IMPORTANT PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER U.S. LAW. AREAS, NOTABLY THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ACCORDED UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE AND RELATED AGREEMENTS, HONG KONG PARTICIPATES AND RECEIVES FAVORABLE TREATMENT (E.G., MOST FAVORED NATION TARIFF RATES) IN ITS OWN RIGHT. FINALLY, FOR A FEW PURPOSES NOTABLY IMMIGRATION AND TEXTILE QUOTAS

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U.S. LAW NOW TREATS HONG KONG AS A SEPARATE TERRITORY.

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THE RESULT OF THIS TREATMENT IS THAT HONG KONG RECEIVES MOST OF THE ADVANTAGES UNDER U.S. LAW OF BEING PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, WITH A FEW ADVANTAGEOUS MODIFICATIONS THAT GIVE EFFECT TO THE TERRITORY'S ECONOMIC AUTONOMY AND CULTURAL DISTINCTIVENESS FROM THE U.K. MOST IMPORTANT, HONG KONG IS SUBJECT TO NONE OF THE U.S. DOMESTIC LEGAL CONSTRAINTS THAT LIMIT OUR COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND OTHER RELATIONS WITH THE PRC. STATUTES NOW IN FORCE SET FORTH MANDATORY RULES THAT APPLY TO CHINA BY NAME, OR TO "STATES," "COUNTRIES," OR SIMILAR THESE STATUTES, WHICH INCLUDE THE JACKSON-VANIK PROVISIONS AND THE CURRENT CHINA SANCTIONS LEGISLATION, COULD

REQUIRE THE IMPOSITION ON HONG KONG OF RESTRICTIONS AND

DISABILITIES THAT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR DESIRE TO RESPECT HONG KONG'S PROMISED AUTONOMY FROM THE PRC.

TERMS.

WE THEREFORE WOULD WELCOME A BILL THAT ESTABLISHES CLEARLY THE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO TREAT HONG

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