[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9541-S9542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       SENATE RESOLUTION 148--RELATIVE TO THE ARREST OF HARRY WU

  Mr. HELMS submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 148

       Whereas Peter H. Wu, known as Harry Wu, attempted to enter 
     the People's Republic of China on June 19, 1995, near the 
     China-Kazakhstan border;
       Whereas Harry Wu, a 58-year-old American citizen, was 
     traveling on a valid United States passport and a valid visa 
     issued by the Chinese authorities;
       Whereas the Chinese authorities confined Harry Wu to house 
     arrest for 3 days, after which time he has not been seen or 
     heard from;
       Whereas the Chinese Foreign Ministry notified the United 
     States Embassy in Beijing of Mr. Wu's detention on Friday, 
     June 23;
       Whereas the United States Embassy in Beijing approached the 
     Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday, June 26, to issue an 
     official demarche for the detention of an American citizen;
       Whereas the terms of the United States-People's Republic of 
     China Consular Convention on February 19, 1982, require that 
     United States Government officials shall be accorded access 
     to an American citizen as soon as possible but not more than 
     48 hours after the United States has been notified of such 
     detention;
       Whereas on Wednesday, June 28, the highest ranking 
     representative of the People's Republic of China in the 
     United States refused to offer the United States Government 
     any information on Harry Wu's whereabouts or the charges 
     brought against him;
       Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China is 
     in violation of the terms of its Consular Convention;
       Whereas Harry Wu, who was born in China, has already spent 
     19 years in Chinese prisons;
       Whereas Harry Wu has dedicated his life to the betterment 
     of the human rights situation in the People's Republic of 
     China;
       Whereas Harry Wu first detailed to the United States 
     Congress the practice of using prison labor to produce 
     products for export from China to other countries;
       Whereas Harry Wu testified before the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate on May 4, 1995, informing the 
     Committee, the Senate, and the American people about the 
     Chinese government practice of murdering Chinese prisoners, 
     including political prisoners, for the purpose of harvesting 
     their organs for sale on the international market;
       Whereas on June 2, 1995, the President of the United States 
     announced his determination that further extension of the 
     waiver authority granted by section 402(c) of the Trade Act 
     of 1974 (Public Law 93-618; 88 Stat. 1978), also known as 
     ``Jackson-Vanik'', will substantially promote freedom of 
     emigration from the People's Republic of China;
       Whereas This waiver authority will allow the People's 
     Republic of China to receive the lowest tariff rates 
     possible, also known as Most-Favored-Nation trading status, 
     for a period of 12 months beginning on July 3, 1995; and

[[Page S9542]]

       Whereas The Chinese government and people benefit 
     substantially from the continuation of such trading benefits: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That (a) the United States Senate expresses its 
     condemnation of the arrest of Peter H. Wu and its deep 
     concern for his well-being.
       (b) It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the People's Republic of China must immediately comply 
     with its commitments under the United States-People's 
     Republic of China Consular Convention of February 19, 1982, 
     by allowing consular access to Peter H. Wu;
       (2) the People's Republic of China should provide 
     immediately a full accounting of Peter Wu's whereabouts and 
     the charges being brought against him; and
       (3) the President of the United States should use every 
     diplomatic means available to ensure Peter Wu's safe and 
     expeditious return to United States.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to the President of the United States with 
     the request that the President further transmit such copy to 
     the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United 
     States.
     

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