U.S. and Hong Kong (2003)

State Department Noon Briefing, April 9, 2003

Following is the State Department transcript:

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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
12:45 p.m. EST

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

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CHINA -- American Citizen Death due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2003 (ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

12:45 p.m. EST

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QUESTION: Yeah. Are you disappointed that China has refused to support the presidential statement in the Council on North Korea?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think, first of all, we welcome the opportunity for discussion at the Security Council of the issues involved in North Korea's nuclear programs. It's a critical issue. We believe action in the forum is timely and appropriate.

This is the first of a series of meetings, we would hope, by the Security Council to take the issue up formally. It fosters a sustained discussion by the Security Council and helps focus attention on North Korea's nuclear program. We do believe the Council should act to go on record opposing North Korea's nuclear actions and warning against further provocations.

The Council is charged with issues of international security such as this matter. It needs to unite to produce an effective response to North Korea's actions that challenge the Nonproliferation Treaty and the Safeguards Agreement, as well as many other agreements that North Korea had. So we look forward to further discussion with the Security Council on the matter.

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QUESTION: Richard, I understand that the main reason the Chinese don't want to support that presidential statement is because they want to give the chance to this multilateral process and maybe try to set up some kind of a forum in the near future. Because you are working with them very closely on that same subject. Isn't there -- wasn't there a way to reconcile whatever differences there might be between you and them and come out with a statement that will be as mild as possible, but still to be a statement?

MR. BOUCHER: As you very well know, we are working with other members of the international community, regional players, including China, to try to start multilateral talks to address these issues with North Korea. We have made clear that our goal is to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this. So there's no contradiction between that and going forward in the Security Council at this moment. This is a matter of concern to many nations; it's a matter of concern to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board, which referred it to the Security Council; and it's a matter, I said, that that involves international peace and security. The fact that we're trying to solve that peacefully doesn't mean that the UN Security Council shouldn't address these important issues.

Sir.

QUESTION: Richard, with respect to the SARS outbreak in Southeast Asia, it's been alleged that the Chinese for a few weeks have been foot-dragging. And they have treaties with the World Health Organizations. Are you alarmed that they are not being as up front as possible?

MR. BOUCHER: I think certainly as a matter of public health that's important like this, we would hope that everybody would cooperate with the international organizations as early as possible. Our own CDC is heavily involved in this and I think I would have to refer you them as far as any judgments to be made on the medical implications of disclosure or failure to disclose.

QUESTION: Richard, on that exact same issue, do you have anything about what I believe would be the first American fatality from SARS of someone who was in Hong Kong who had come in from China?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. We do know that we can confirm, actually, that there was an American citizen who contracted Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in China's Guangdong Province who has died, now, in Hong Kong.

U.S. Consular officers are providing all possible assistance to the family of the deceased American. We clearly want to extend our condolences to the family. Out of consideration for the family's privacy, at this point, we are not releasing any further details about the death.

QUESTION: Okay. Well, then you'll probably not answer this. But do you know if this person was there on business, or if it was a holiday?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I can answer that. I'll check and see if there is any sort of descriptive pieces I can provide.

QUESTION: Okay. And on the same issue, has there been some -- and this gets to the WHO as well. There have been some allegations that the Taiwanese response to SARS was hindered by the fact that are not a member of the WHO. And, of course, this is something that China has fought, member -- Taiwan's membership. Is there any hardening of the -- or any change in the administration's position or hardening of its position that Taiwan now should be a part, or should be allowed to join as a full member the WHO?

MR. BOUCHER: Our position on that has not changed. I'll be glad to get you the official doctrine on it, though.

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