U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, July 1

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli briefed reporters June 30.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

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Daily Press Briefing
Thursday, July 1, 2004
12:50 p.m. EDT

BRIEFER: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Hong Kong. Do you have anything on the demonstration yesterday -- oh, no -- yeah -- today?

MR. ERELI: We would note that the United States respects the right of the people of Hong Kong to express their commitment to democracy and political reform peacefully. As we've said many times, it is up to the people of Hong Kong and the Government of Hong Kong to determine the pace and scope of democratization. It is our longstanding policy to support Hong Kong's move toward electoral reform and universal suffrage, as provided for in the basic law.

Yes, a follow-up? Do you have a follow up?

QUESTION: Yeah. I remember last year, after the first large-scale demonstration, you had a quite similar remark on that issue. And a year later, as you can see, the democracy in Hong Kong did not progress that much. Is it a concern for you? And the number of the people march on the street seems to be decreased.

MR. ERELI: What I would say to that is what I said earlier, that it is up to the people and government of Hong Kong to determine the pace and scope of democratization. That is something that they are doing and I don't have any comment beyond -- particular comment beyond that.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Do you have anything on Wang Bingzhang, the United States permanent resident jailed in China? I think his sister said he couldn't walk now.

MR. ERELI: Yes. Mr. Wang Bingzhang is a legal permanent resident of the United States. He has been imprisoned since December 2002. We are aware of reports that he suffered a stroke while in prison and is very ill. We are in contact with his family, who have not been allowed to visit him since January of this year.

We have registered and will continue to register our deep concerns over Mr. Wang's case with the Chinese authorities and we urge China to ensure that Mr. Wang receives proper medical care and that his rights under Chinese law are fully respected.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: One more on China. I guess it's no more news for you that there is divided opinion within the high-ranking officials in China that they have different -- in regard of number of issues, including the democracy of Hong Kong, including, on top of that, how to handle -- how to end the persecution of Falun Gong, and recently, the shooting of Australian Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa seems that they escalated the persecution of it overseas, even outside of China now. Is it some kind of concern of you, or do you have anything on this?

MR. ERELI: I think our position on this issue is well-known and oft-stated. And there's -- I don't really have anything new to say. The importance of this issue is documented in our annual report on human rights and is a subject of bilateral dialogue, but I don't have anything more or new to say on it than that.

Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:40 p.m.)

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