[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 285 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  2d Session

                            H. CON. RES. 285

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President of the United 
   States should reconsider his decision to be formally received in 
 Tiananmen Square by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 285

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas 9 years ago on June 4, 1989, thousands of Chinese students peacefully 
        gathered in Tiananmen Square to demonstrate their support for freedom 
        and democracy;
Whereas it was with horror that the world witnessed the response of the 
        Government of the People's Republic of China as tanks and military units 
        marched into Tiananmen Square;
Whereas Chinese soldiers of the People's Republic of China were ordered to fire 
        machine guns and tanks on young, unarmed civilians;
Whereas ``children were killed holding hands with their mothers'', according to 
        a reliable eyewitness account;
Whereas according to the same eyewitness account, ``students were crushed by 
        armored personnel carriers'';
Whereas more than 2,000 Chinese pro-democracy demonstrators died that day, 
        according to the Chinese Red Cross;
Whereas hundreds continue to languish in prisons because of their belief in 
        freedom and democracy;
Whereas 9 years after the massacre on June 4, 1989, the Government of the 
        People's Republic of China has yet to acknowledge the Tiananmen Square 
        massacre; and
Whereas, being formally received in Tiananmen Square, the President would bestow 
        legitimacy on the Chinese Government's horrendous actions of 9 years 
        ago: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should 
reconsider his decision to be formally received in Tiananmen Square 
until the Government of the People's Republic of China acknowledges the 
Tiananmen Square massacre, pledges that such atrocities will never 
happen again, and releases those Chinese students still imprisoned for 
supporting freedom and democracy that day.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 4, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.