[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 25 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 105-3

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Injunction of Secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty submitted to the Senate on March 3, 1997, by the President of 
the United States: Agreement with Hong Kong for the Surrender of 
Fugitive Offenders (Treaty Document No. 105-3). I further ask that the 
treaty be considered as having been read the first time, that it be 
referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
and ordered to be printed, and that the President's message be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The President's message is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification as a treaty, I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hong 
Kong for the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders signed at Hong Kong on 
December 20, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Agreement''). In 
addition, I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report of 
the Department of State with respect to the Agreement. As a treaty, 
this Agreement will not require implementing legislation.
  This Agreement will, upon entry into force, enhance cooperation 
between the law enforcement communities of the United States and Hong 
Kong, and will provide a framework and basic protections for 
extraditions after the reversion of Hong Kong to the sovereignty of the 
People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997. Given the absence of an 
extradition treaty with the People's Republic of China, this Treaty 
would provide the means to continue an extradition relationship with 
Hong Kong after reversion and avoid a gap in law enforcement. It will 
thereby make a significant contribution to international law 
enforcement efforts.
  The provisions in this Agreement follow generally the form and 
content of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United 
States. In addition, the Agreement contains several provisions 
specially designed in light of the particular status of Hong Kong. The 
Agreement's basic protections for fugitives are also made expressly 
applicable to fugitives surrendered by the two parties before the new 
treaty enters into force.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Agreement and give its advice and consent to its ratification as a 
treaty.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, March 3, 1997.

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