November 12, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E2323 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT BY that life has not changed after reversion. The able local poll showed 78 percent of Hong THE UNITED STATES HOUSE press and media continue to be open, free, Kongers were satisfied with Tung. That num- TASK FORCE ON THE HONG and full of criticism and analysis of both the ber rose to 82 percent in early September. KONG TRANSITION Hong Kong and Beijing governments. Journal- Even among survey respondents who said ists, while wary and suspicious about China's they would vote for pro-democracy parties, 80 HON. DOUG BEREUTER long-term intentions, continue to cover the percent indicated they were satisfied with the news much as they did before July 1, 1997. chief executive, rivaling prominent pro-democ- OF NEBRASKA For example, the recent Chinese Communist racy advocate Martin Lee's 82 percent rating. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Party Congress drew extensive commentary. LOCAL AUTONOMY RESPECTED Wednesday, November 12, 1997 Journalists displayed no hesitancy in voicing The central Chinese Government appears to views not welcome in Beijing. Nonetheless, Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, in response be taking seriously President Jiang Zemin's the self-censorship that began to creep into to your directions, I have prepared the follow- pledge at the handover that no mainland gov- coverage in some papers prior to reversion ing report, the first in a series of quarterly re- ernment officials ``may or will be allowed to has continued. ports by the U.S. House Task Force on the interfere'' in the affairs which Hong Kong DemonstrationsÐby pro-democracy and should administer on its own. Premier Li Peng Hong Kong Transition on the status of Hong pro-Beijing groups and a myriad of local orga- Kong following its return to the People's Re- reiterated that pledge and gave a strong vote nizationsÐcontinue without interference or re- of confidence to Tung in mid-September while public of China. It was completed, effective striction. More than 150 demonstrations have October 1, 1997. hosting the IMF and World Bank meetings in taken place since the July 1 turnover. Indeed, Hong Kong. Far from being heavy-handed or Also at your request, I have formed the in an upturn in the number of demonstrations, insensitive, Bejing appears to have absented House Task Force on Hong Kong's Transition a gauntlet of demonstrators regularly greets itself from active involvement in Hong Kong af- to observe and report on Hong Kong's status Hong Kong Chief Executive C.H. Tung when fairs since the handover. Again and again, following its reversion to China. In addition to he arrives for weekly executive council ses- China has gone out of its way to project a be- myself as chairman, the task force will be sions. However, in a typical Hong Kong twist, nign ``smiling face'' image on Hong Kong-relat- bipartisanly balanced and will include Rep- Tung invariably trades handshakes and smiles ed matters. resentative HOWARD BERMAN, D±CA; Rep- with his critics, who line up behind the waist- LOW-KEY APPROACH resentative SHERROD BROWN, D±OH; Rep- high barricades flanking the entry to Central After installing the urbane Ma Yuzhen as resentative ENI FALEOMAVAEGA, D±AS; Rep- Government Offices as he walks past. head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA] resentative ALCEE HASTINGS, D±FL; Rep- NGO's, including those harshly critical of office in Hong Kong, and the low-key diplomat resentative JAY KIM, R±CA; Representative China, continue to operate freely. Han Jiang Enzhu to replace the always pugnacious DONALD MANZULLO, R±IL; and Representative Dongfan, exiled PRC dissident and leader of Zhou Nan at the Xinhua News Agency, the de MATT SALMON, R±AZ. As you requested, the workers' groups during the 1989 Tiananmen facto MFA representative in Hong Kong prior task force expects to travel to Hong Kong, demonstrations, reports no problems continu- Beijing, and other relevant destinations at to reversion, China has stood back and re- ing his work in Hong Kong thus far. Comment- fused to become embroiled in local issues. least every 6 months for the foreseeable fu- ing in a local newspaper, Han said it was too ture to examine how reversion has affected Xinhua, once a source of constant criticism early to tell what Beijing would eventually do, and commentary on Hong Kong Government Hong Kong. The first such visit is expected to but ``as far as I can see with all the dem- take place after the adjournment of the 1997 policy, has fallen silent. MFA head Ma Yuzhen onstrations by Democrats and othersÐthere is has deferred to the Hong Kong Government session but before the end of the calendar hope for democracy here.'' Han continues to year.***HD***Concerns Prior to Reversion on virtually all matters. His contacts with Hong broadcast regularly from Hong Kong via Radio Kong Government officials have reportedly Prior to Hong Kong's July 1, 1997, reversion Free Asia on one of its most popular pro- to Chinese sovereignty, many observers ex- been strictly limited to protocol matters. grams, ``The Labor Corner.'' Amnesty Inter- If China is attempting to influence certain is- pressed skepticism over Beijing's assurances national, Human Rights Watch and Human sues, it is doing so in a manner that is not that it would allow Hong Kong full autonomy in Rights in China representatives in Hong Kong public. Political debates China has avoided matters other than foreign policy and defense. are encouraged by the continued demonstra- commenting on or attempting to influence pub- Skeptics questioned whether Beijing could re- tions and absence of any Hong Kong Govern- licly include: sist the temptation to meddle in matters relat- ment moves to restrict their operations. Mean- The plight of illegal immigrant children with ed to freedom of expression, for example. while, democrats say that the threat to Hong the right of abode in Hong Kong. China has They were also concerned about indications Kong would come from a very slow erosion of allowed the Hong Kong courts and govern- that the Beijing-sponsored provisional legisla- the rule of law, not a sudden crackdown on ment to interpret the Basic Law's provision of ture would roll back forward-looking measures civil liberties or freedom of speech. the right of abode in Hong Kong to certain taken by the last colonial Legislative Council Concern arose in mid-September, however, Chinese nationals. Citing administrative effi- [LEGCO] and that the new provisional council when both the Chinese and the Hong Kong ciency and preventing overcrowding in would institute election rules less representa- governments objected to the credentialing of schools, Hong Kong will not allow unrestricted tive than those put into place by Governor two human rights groups to the recent IMF/ entry of PRC nationals who received the right Patten in 1995. Businessmen wondered World Bank meeting in Hong Kong. Since to live in Hong Kong when the Basic Law whether China could refrain from meddling in human rights is in the lending guidelines of comes into force on July 1. Hong Kong's affairs, either intentionally or oth- these financial institutions, participation by the Displaying the ``Republic of China'' Taiwan erwise. Maintaining the rule of law and resist- human rights groups was appropriate. The ob- flag in Hong Kong. Ma Yuzhen, when pressed ing the lure of corruption, so common in jections of the Hong Kong government are by a reporter, said the issue would be for China, were key commercial concerns. On the troubling. Ten Members of Congress, led by Hong Kong to decide. security side, skeptics questioned Hong Congressman BERMAN, wrote to Secretary of Hong Kong Government spending. Hong Kong's continued ability to maintain effective the Treasury, Robert Rubin, to express their Kong pledged one billion United States dollars export controls. The future of U.S. ship visits concern. to the IMF Thailand bail-out and committed was also in doubt. APPROVAL RATINGS HIGH over seven billion United States dollars to a IN GENERAL: SO FAR, SO GOOD Reflecting locals' belief that life goes on as railway construction project. Chinese scrutiny While Hong Kong has been under Chinese usual, Tung's approval ratings have continued of government spending under the British was sovereignty for only 3 months, public con- to climb since mid-June, when only 57 percent intense, usually hostile, and raised fears that fidence is high. Hong Kongers are close to of Hong Kongers reported they were satisfied China would not stay out of Hong Kong's af- unanimous in expressing relief and pleasure with his performance. By early August, a reli- fairs after reversion. The IMF pledge and the · This ``bullet'' symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. E2324 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks November 12, 1997 rail project are early indications that China Assessments of the recent regional currency agreements on Hong Kong, are controversial does not always act like a ``control freak''Ð turmoil on Hong Kong suggest modest because they dismantle key portions of the one of Governor Patten's favorite descrip- nearterm costs. One observable increased electoral reforms put into place by Governor tionsÐand will honor the pledge to respect cost was the rise by 30 to 50 basis points Patten in 1995. The proposals maintain the Hong Kong's autonomy. It should be noted, above regular levels of 20 points in Hong original formula of 20 Legco members to be however, that China also pledged one billion Kong's interest rate risk premium.