[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 25 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESS FREEDOM IN HONG KONG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 3, 1997

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, last week I reintroduced a bill that is 
intended to provide a special immigration status for journalists 
working in Hong Kong, in the event that there is a crackdown on the 
press after this British colony reverts to Chinese sovereignty on 
midnight, June 30, 1997.
  The human rights community and the business community may have 
different views about the future of Hong Kong, but everyone agrees that 
maintaining freedom of the press and the free flow of information in 
Hong Kong is essential to protecting its way of life. The economic 
miracle of Hong Kong is fed by the free flow of information, not only 
about market activities and economic trends, but about what is going on 
in the world. As we all know, in mainland China, the press is not free 
to report on whatever it sees fit. The state tightly controls the media 
and does not hesitate to imprison or otherwise censure legitimate 
journalists who are attempting to report on important events within and 
outside China. This rough treatment is not limited to the domestic 
Chinese media, but extends to foreign media as well. But while foreign 
journalists have the protection of their own governments, the domestic 
press corps does not have this luxury.
  Today in Hong Kong, the press is one of the freest in the world. Hong 
Kong proudly boasts that they have more newspapers per capita than 
anywhere on Earth. Yet this freewheeling, open society will soon become 
part of an authoritarian regime which views the media with distrust, if 
not outright animosity. When these two views of the press collide, 
unfortunately, problems may arise. While it is my strongest hope that 
China will realize the important role that the media plays in Hong Kong 
and live up to its obligations under the Sino-British Joint 
Declaration, I am not so optimistic to believe that Beijing will 
graciously tolerate critical media coverage.
  There have already been disturbing statements by high-ranking Chinese 
officials concerning limits on the press. Blacklisting of journalists, 
restrictions on what can be reported, and the arrest of Hong Kong 
journalists in China have sent shockwaves through the journalistic 
community in Hong Kong. My discussions with journalists during previous 
trips to Hong Kong in 1989 and 1992 prompted me to first introduce this 
legislation in the 103d Congress. While I was there this January, I 
again met with a group of journalists and they expressed their concerns 
about the type of pressure they already see coming from Beijing. 
Economic blackmail and loss of access are real problems for these 
persons whose livelihood depends on getting a story.
  Freedom of the press is something that we take for granted here in 
the United States. We know how important a free press is to preserving 
our democratic institutions and fueling the engine of economic growth. 
This legislation will send a strong message that the Congress and the 
people of the United States are watching what happens to journalists in 
Hong Kong and that what happens to them is important to us, not only 
because of the impact it has on United States economic interests there, 
but because freedom of the press is something that we deeply believe 
in. It will also send the journalists of Hong Kong a message that they 
have a safety valve, that they can continue to do their jobs with a 
measure of protection, and contribute to the unique and remarkable way 
of life that Hong Kong has enjoyed for so many years.
  I commend this important legislation to my colleagues and ask for 
their support.

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