[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1366-E1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             A PROMISE KEPT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 1997

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member highly commends to his 
colleagues this editorial which appeared in the Norfolk Daily News on 
July 5, 1997.

 A Promise Kept--Hong Kong Reverts to China; Reason for Pride in What 
                           Has Been Achieved

       Hong Kong residents have been promised a capitalist economy 
     and a relatively free society for at least 50 years. People 
     now alive will be able to see whether the government of 
     China, which continues to be governed by Communists, keeps 
     its word as the British did in turning back this rich, small 
     and independent enclave after their 99-year lease expired 
     June 30.
       A contract was honored; no gunfire exchanged.
       That has not been the way of international relations; 
     rather, it is an exception.
       In farewell remarks, the last British governor of the 
     territory, Chris Patten, said of Hong Kong: ``It is a great 
     Chinese success story written--to be fair--within a system of 
     values and British institutions which have encouraged, not 
     threatened, that success.''
       It is an example of what can be achieved when industrious 
     people are free to profit from their hard work and 
     enterprise, and able to live their lives without an 
     oppressive government.
       Britishers should be proud of what they accomplished as 
     they relinquish control of this remnant of a once huge 
     empire.
       The future benefits to mankind might turn out to be as 
     significant as those which followed the grim days when they 
     stood virtually alone against Adolf Hitler's aggression.


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