U.S. and Hong Kong (2001)

Powell and British Foreign Secretary Straw Joint Press Q&A

Following is the State Department transcript:

(begin transcript)

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

July 11, 2001

JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY WITH BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE OF FOREIGN
AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS JACK STRAW AND SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L.
POWELL

Benjamin Franklin Room
Washington, D.C.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Q: Thank you. As you know, China has (inaudible) for the care and feeding of the Navy Surveillance EP-3. The Pentagon says it cost up to $5.8 million to dismantle the plane and bring it home. It may cost another $40 million or $50 million to put it back in service or get a replacement.

I have a two-part question, sir. One, do you intend to pay the China bill, and if so, how much?

Two, would you send a separate bill to China to cover our expenses?

SECRETARY POWELL: All of that is under review at the Pentagon, and the Chinese have sent us a bill, and we have a different view of what the expenses should be. And I really do have to direct you to the Pentagon with respect to what they are negotiating with the Chinese with respect to the payment of the first bill, and judgments with respect to any additional bills that might be placed against the Chinese Government or additional bills they might try to place against us. So I have to divert that back over to the Pentagon for their answer.

Q: I have a question for both Mr. Powell and for Mr. Straw. A few hours ago, the Hong Kong legislature voted to give China the right to fire the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. You met today with Mr. Tung Chee-Hwa, and I just wondered whether you believe that this in any way violates the agreement of the basic law that granted autonomy for 50 years to Hong Kong if it was absorbed by China?

SECRETARY STRAW: Well, I have not been briefed on this. I am happy to get you a response later on, but I doubt very much whether it would violate the basic law. We will have a look at it and let you have a response.

SECRETARY POWELL: I haven't been briefed either. I met with Mr. Tung earlier this morning, and the issue did not come up.

Q: Mr. Secretary, in your meeting with Mr. Tung, what issues did you raise? Did you raise the issue of the Falun Gong and other human rights issues in Hong Kong? And how would you categorize Mr. Tung's response?

SECRETARY POWELL: We talked about human rights issues in general terms. I made the point clearly to him that in our relations with China we would always raise human rights issues with respect to individuals and movements that are trying to enjoy free expression and any constraints on that free expression. He understood my point. He gave me the position of their government. But these issues were discussed and raised -- were raised and discussed.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

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