TNAG-2611-FCO40-3802-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 18

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144300

MDLIAN 0587

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as supplent

UNCLASSIFIED

=M WASHINGTON

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2693

OF 090015Z DECEMBER 92

AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR

HONG 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

DESPERATELY 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, -IBERTY AND HUMAN WHAT IT CAN GIVEN

RIGHTS. AND I THINK THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MATTER BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, IN THE 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.

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 LAST FEW DAYS AND I HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN PLAY A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN RELIEVING THOSE TENSIONS AND THOSE CONCERNS. UNQUOTE.

RENWICK

YYYY

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