U.S. and Hong Kong (2005)

State Department Briefing, November 29

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack briefed the press November 29.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
1:05 p.m. EST

Briefer: Sean McCormack, Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Change the topic. About Hong Kong? The Secretary had friends from Hong Kong, which is a prominent democracy fighter, Mr. Martin Lee.

MR. MCCORMACK: Yes.

QUESTION: They have half an hour talk and this is the third time they meet together. I'm not sure, question one, the Secretary (inaudible) on December 4, there will be a mass demonstration on Hong Kong, which is urging the Hong Kong Government, an essential government, to support the universal suffrage in Hong Kong at ASAP or as promised in Hong Kong's Basic Law. So question one, did the Secretary (inaudible) on December 4 there will be another mass scale demonstration on the street?

And question two, did the Secretary support universal suffrage in Hong Kong?

And question three, the Secretary met the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, weeks before. Compared with these two visits, did the Secretary express the same message to these two prominent leaders in Hong Kong?

MR. MCCORMACK: I think that she expressed our position with respect to the questions that you raised and our position is thus: That we support democracy and universal suffrage in Hong Kong and that in both of these meetings -- and in today's meeting, the Secretary emphasized our conviction that the people of Hong Kong should determine the pace and scope of political reform in accordance with the Basic Law. We believe that this is in the interest of the people of Hong Kong, China, and the region and will allow Hong Kong to maintain its unique and important role.

QUESTION: In terms of the scale that the visit -- will you compare this two visits with Martin and Donald?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not going to try to compare the two. She was pleased to meet with both gentlemen.

QUESTION: But, yet last time, Donald have a chance to meet the Vice President. This time, Martin has only the chance to meet the Secretary. So is it Martin has less attention than Tsang?

MR. MCCORMACK: Nice try. (Laughter.)

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Mr. Lee said that he told the Secretary that democracy in Hong Kong is in trouble. Did she respond to that and did she give any specific support for direct elections in Hong Kong?

MR. MCCORMACK: In terms of universal suffrage, I answered the question. We believe that the people of Hong Kong should determine the pace and scope of political reform in accordance with the Basic Law. And the Secretary did underline our very strong support for democracy and universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

QUESTION: Mr. Lee also said that he invited the Secretary to visit Hong Kong as soon as possible so that she could see for herself what the situation was like there. I just wondered whether she had -- is considering this.

MR. MCCORMACK: We'll keep you updated on her travel schedule.

QUESTION: Can I follow up?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: When President Bush visit Asia early this -- well, in past the few weeks, he did mention that China should embrace democracy and cited Taiwan as an example. Do you think Hong Kong -- the democracy process in Hong Kong will have any implication for this -- for democracy in China as well as in Taiwan?

MR. MCCORMACK: In terms of our position with respect to democracy in Hong Kong and I think I've outlined where we stand on the issue.

QUESTION: How about China?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yes. Teri.

QUESTION: Not on China. Are you done?

QUESTION: On Hong Kong. Just quick one?

MR. MCCORMACK: Sure.

QUESTION: Would a visit to Hong Kong be even in consideration? I mean, it's, you know, it's not a sovereign state. Will the Secretary of State go to a place that is under the sovereignty of another government because --

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, we're going to be sending quite a few people there to --

QUESTION: In the Doha --

MR. MCCORMACK: For the Doha round. So --

QUESTION: Of course, but that's not bilateral.

MR. MCCORMACK: Exactly, but I just wanted to make the point that U.S. officials do go to Hong Kong and I think on a regular basis. In terms of the Secretary's travel schedule, we'll keep you updated on that.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:49 p.m.)

(end transcript)