[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IMPLICATIONS OF THE HAND OVER OF HONG KONG ON TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, on June 30th of this year, British rule over 
Hong Kong ended and the former British colony was returned to China. I 
was honored to be a member of the congressional delegation to observe 
the reversion of Hong Kong to PRC control. On that same day, as the 
celebration was taking place in Hong Kong, Taiwan's President Lee Teng-
hui, authored an article which was published in USA Today discussing 
the implications of the hand over of Hong Kong for the future relations 
between the 21 million people living in a democratic society in Taiwan 
and the more than one billion people who have yet to experience freedom 
and democracy on the Chinese mainland. As President Lee correctly notes 
in his article, The Republic of China has undergone a dramatic 
transformation from a country operating under martial law to a full 
fledged democracy with a vibrant market economy.
  President Lee is justifiably proud of the achievements his country 
has made in the past decade, much of which has taken place while 
President Lee has been Taiwan's leader. President Lee states in this 
article that he hopes the government on the Chinese mainland will 
undergo a similar democratic transformation in the next decade but 
properly notes that, to date, there has been little progress on the 
mainland toward achieving the twin goals of freedom and justice. 
President Lee believes when this transformation occurs on the mainland, 
reunification across the Straits of Taiwan will become a reality.
  Mr. Speaker, having seen Taiwan make the dramatic change to market-
oriented democracy, President Lee believes Hong Kong should be able to 
maintain its democratic status and the Chinese mainland ought to 
embrace democracy in the first decade of the 21st century. This is a 
lofty goal, but one that I know all of my colleagues hope will occur. 
In the meantime, we must look toward the island of Taiwan as a beacon 
of democracy in a very complex and rapidly changing area of Southeast 
Asia. In the light of the recent events in Hong Kong, I urge my 
colleagues to read the article I included with my statement.

                Taiwan Yields Model For a Free Hong Kong

                           (By Lee Teng-hui)

       Today, the era of colonial rule will come to an end in Hong 
     Kong. This is a proud event for all Chinese wherever they 
     are, and offers a new opportunity for creating a democratic 
     Chinese nation. We earnestly hope that the Beijing 
     authorities will be able to maintain the prosperity and 
     stability of Hong Kong, and will ensure that the people of 
     Hong Kong continue to enjoy freedom, democracy and basic 
     human rights. This is the only way to act in accord with the 
     joint values and trends of mankind today, regional peace and 
     development, and the common dignity and interests of all 
     Chinese people.
       Taiwan's experience offers reason for optimism.
       A little more than one year ago, the Republic of China 
     successfully held a direct presidential election on Taiwan, 
     completing a crucial objective of our political reform. At 
     the time, the concept of constitutional government stressed 
     by Americans over two-hundred years ago kept coming to my 
     mind: ``. . . all Men are created equal, . . . they are 
     endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, . . 
     . among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness 
     . . . to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted 
     among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the 
     Government.''
       Indeed, with the joint effort of the entire populace and 
     their government, the Republic of China has upheld the 
     principle of popular sovereignty on Taiwan, and has succeeded 
     in lifting martial law, liberalizing the formation of 
     political parties, realizing the practice of free speech, re-
     electing all national parliamentarians who had been in office 
     for a long time, and carrying out a direct presidential 
     election. Through these endeavors, the Republic of China has 
     undergone profound change, and has become a full-fledged 
     democracy.
       However, we cannot overlook the fact that still over 20 
     percent of the world's population, most of whom live on the 
     Chinese mainland, have no way to enjoy these rights. The 
     Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same 
     cultural and racial heritage. Thus, there is no reason why we 
     cannot jointly build a system of democracy and freedom, and 
     fully exercise our God-given rights.
       In 1979, before martial law was lifted in Taiwan, a number 
     of protesters demonstrating against government censorship of 
     their magazine were arrested and jailed in what became known 
     as the Kaohsiung Incident. At the same time, the Chinese 
     communists authorities arrested the human rights activist Wei 
     Jingsheng. Today, many of those involved in the Kaohsiung 
     Incident have redeemed themselves through the ballot box and 
     have become important elected political leaders on Taiwan. 
     However, Mr. Wei remains in jail. The marked differences in 
     systems and values between the two sides are the fundamental 
     reason why each of the two parts of the China we all want to 
     see reunified one day still remain separate political 
     entities.
       Democracy has become a world trend, and is without doubt 
     the greatest achievement of mankind this century. One reason 
     civilization continues to progress is that we have the 
     courage to realize our dreams, and we have the heart to care 
     about each other and provide mutual support. We must continue 
     to uphold this spirit and sentiment, so that democracy 
     ultimately becomes the common way of life of all humanity. 
     May people living in every corner of the global village enjoy 
     democracy!
       Thus, we cherish the young buds of democracy on the Chinese 
     mainland. Certain forms of election in rural townships and 
     villages have spread on the mainland in recent years. We are 
     happy to see it succeed and call on the Chinese mainland 
     authorities to show the courage and determination to boldly 
     take the grand route to democracy. Join with us and bring 
     democracy to all of Chinese society, seeking everlasting 
     well-being and peace for the Chinese people!
       Unquestionably, if Taiwan can achieve democracy, then Hong 
     Kong should be able to maintain democracy, and there is no 
     reason why the Chinese mainland can not do everything 
     possible to head in that direction. This is the true way to 
     solve the China problem.
       In the 21st century, Mankind will certainly prove that 
     ``All roads lead to Democracy!''

     

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