U.S. and Hong Kong (1985-1997)

CLINTON, BLAIR PRESS CONFERENCE IN LONDON MAY 29

Following is the White House transcript:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
(London, England)

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR

#10 Downing Street London, England

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

We agreed that NATO is and will remain the cornerstone of Europe's defense. And I was grateful, too, for the President's expression of continuing support on Hong Kong. We agreed, too, that Britain does not need to choose between being strong in Europe or being close to the United States of America, but that by being strong in Europe we will further strengthen our relations with the U.S.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Let me say, finally, that we discussed Hong Kong, and I commended the United Kingdom to work to implement the word and the spirit of the 1984 agreement. All of us who care about the future of Hong Kong have a stake in making sure the agreement is fully met. We will keep faith with the people of Hong Kong by monitoring the transition to make sure that civil liberties are retained, that democratic values and free market principles are maintained. Those are the things for which the United Kingdom and the United States stand, and those are the things that the agreement guarantees.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]