UNCLASSIFIED
18
144300
MDLIAN 0587
UNCLASSIFIED
FM WASHINGTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2693
OF 090015Z DECEMBER 92
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
HONG KONG: COMMENTS BY GOVERNOR CLINTON
1.
TOP COPY Q DIST?
ра
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, LIBERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. AND I THINK THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO WHAT IT CAN GIVEN 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
HKD Q1/3
YYYY
PAGE
1
UNCLASSIFIED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.