U.S. and Hong Kong (1997)

Expressing the Sense of the Senate that the people of the United States wish the people of Hong Kong good fortune as they embark on their historic transition of sovereignty from Great... (Agreed to by Senate)

SRES 105 ATS

105th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 105

Expressing the Sense of the Senate that the people of the United States wish the people of Hong Kong good fortune as they embark on their historic transition of sovereignty from Great Britain to the People's Republic of China.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 27, 1997

Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. MACK, Mr. LOTT, Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mr. HELMS, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. ROBB, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. NICKLES, Mr. ROTH, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Mr. CRAIG) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Expressing the Sense of the Senate that the people of the United States wish the people of Hong Kong good fortune as they embark on their historic transition of sovereignty from Great Britain to the People's Republic of China.

Whereas at one minute past midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong will cease to be a colonial possession of Great Britain and will return to Chinese sovereignty;

Whereas the people of Hong Kong enjoy civil liberties and political freedoms based on the democratic rule of law and the functions of a free market;

Whereas the People's Republic of China has promised through international agreements and Chinese law to preserve Hong Kong's way of life and to grant the people of Hong Kong substantial autonomy in self-government;

Whereas the United States is committed through the Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to monitoring, advocating and reporting on the continuation of Hong Kong's freedoms under Chinese rule; and

Whereas the United States enjoys a longstanding commercial, cultural and political relationship with Hong Kong and a developing relationship with the People's Republic of China: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the people of the United States wish good fortune to the people of Hong Kong as they embark on their historic transition of sovereignty;

(2) the United States urges the People's Republic of China to honor both the spirit and the letter of its commitments to accord Hong Kong substantial autonomy as a separate administrative region in a China characterized as 'one country, two systems';

(3) the executive branch should exercise due diligence in enforcing the terms and conditions of the Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and subsequent acts and provisions concerning the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law in Hong Kong;

(4) the United States looks forward to continuing its close, productive relationship with the people of Hong Kong; and

(5) the United States hopes to develop a positive, productive relationship with the People's Republic of China based upon shared respect for human dignity and responsible behavior in the international community of nations.