TNAG-2609-FCO40-3800-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 44

Annex

POLACA

to it such as the removal of the requirement for regular reports on the implementation of the Joint Declaration by the US Administration. The reporting requirement was particularly unacceptable to the UK. It has now been dropped but the revised Bill of 1 May (which I had not seen until today) is in many respects still unacceptable. For example, it calls for a report every 18 months on conditions in Hong Kong of interest to the US, including the development of democratic institutions in Hong Kong and the nature and extent of Hong Kong's participation in international fora. It also calls for the Administration to report to Congress if Hong Kong is not legally competent to fulfil its obligations or benefit from the rights under any international agreement entered into between the US and Hong Kong or between the US and UK but applicable to Hong Kong before 30 June 1997, or if the continuation of such obligations or rights is inappropriate under the circumstances. The intention is to identify agreements which will not apply to Hong Kong after 1997. There is also a call for a report on Hong Kong to be included in any other reports on global issues (eg the annual UN Human Rights Committee report).

(In fact, a report on Hong Kong is regularly submitted to that Committee).

4. The Senate passed the Bill on 21 May. The Bill has now been referred to three House of

Representatives sub-Committees. Congressman Solarz is now the prime mover of the Bill. His staffers are confident that the final Bill will be passed by the 4 July Recess.