U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, April 6, 2004

State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli briefed.

Following is the State Department transcript:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Washington DC
April 6, 2004

BRIEFER: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

1:15 p.m. EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: You may have seen the report from Hong Kong about the Chinese are
not giving the Hong Kong democracy advocates much leeway these days. And you
may have seen an announcement on that, in fact, today. Any comment?

MR. ERELI: We have seen that report.

I guess our comment would be simply to restate our policy on Hong Kong and
on democracy there, which I think you're very familiar with: That policy is
that we support electoral reform and universal suffrage in Hong Kong in
keeping with the Basic Law's own goals, and we would encourage dialogue,
continuing dialogue between the Government of Hong Kong and the people of
Hong Kong toward that end.

We would also encourage the Hong Kong Government to do everything possible
to respond to the expressed aspirations of the Hong Kong people for
electoral reform and universal suffrage.

We would also note that international confidence in Hong Kong is predicated
on its rule of law and high degree of autonomy, and we will continue to
watch the situation in Hong Kong closely, and our goal is to support Hong
Kong's continued stability and prosperity.

QUESTION: Does that mean, Adam, that you believe that the Chinese
parliament, the NPC, should not have the right of review over anything that
has, over any changes that might be made?

MR. ERELI: I guess I'd put it this way: that Hong Kong's continued
prosperity, Hong Kong's continued stability, Hong Kong's continued success
depends on, and will continue to depend on the autonomy that was envisioned
by Beijing nearly 20 years ago when it created the "One Country, Two
Systems" framework, and that our aim is to support that, that kind of
autonomy, that kind of prosperity, that kind of stability, consistent with
the Basic Law.

QUESTION: What, but do you, do you think that the right of review by Beijing
over, over, over what it goes on in Hong Kong is consistent with the Basic
Law?

MR. ERELI: I'd put it this way: that the Basic Law guarantees "One Country,
Two Systems," that it is critical for "One Country, Two Systems" that there
be a fully autonomous and open society that is governed by the rule of law
in Beijing. I'm sorry, in Hong Kong.

QUESTION: Okay. I'm try -- really, I'm only looking for a yes or no answer.

MR. ERELI: Sorry. I'm sorry if I can't accommodate.

QUESTION: Does that mean that you don't -- you don't have an opinion on
whether the NPC should have final say?

MR. ERELI: No, it means that our opinion is that Hong Kong ought --
prosperity and stability is important to autonomy.

QUESTION: Right, I got that. You've said that three times now.

MR. ERELI: So that's, that's what our position is. That's the best I can do
for you.

Yes.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:55 p.m.)

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