[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 9 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE ON THE HONG KONG TRANSITION

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2002

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, following his visit to Hong Kong in April 
1997, then-Speaker Newt Gingrich tasked this Member with the 
responsibility of creating the House Task Force on Hong Kong's 
Transition, and of observing and reporting on Hong Kong's status 
following its return to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Former 
Speaker Gingrich asked the Task Force to provide the House of 
Representatives with quarterly reports which was done through the fifth 
report of February 2, 1999. Following that report Speaker Dennis 
Hastert concurred with this Member's recommendation that the reports be 
issued on a periodic basis. The Task Force has been bipartisan in 
nature, with four members chosen from each party. All members of the 
Task Force were drawn from what was then the International Relations 
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. They included Representative 
Howard Berman (D-CA), Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH), 
Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Representative Eni Faleomavaega 
(D-AS), then-Representative Matt Salmon (R-AZ), and Representative Don 
Manzullo (R-IL).
  On behalf of the Task Force, this Member would like to inform his 
colleagues that the ninth report of the Task Force on the Hong Kong 
Transition has been filed. It follows eight previous reports, the most 
recent of which was dated August 1, 2000. The report focuses on events 
and developments relevant to U.S. interests in the Hong Kong Special 
Administrative Region (HKSAR) between August 2000 and December 31, 
2001.
  In August 2001, this Member traveled to Hong Kong to meet with senior 
political officials and routinely meets with delegations from Hong Kong 
when they visit Washington, D.C. From these meetings, the Task Force 
has gleaned that the transition continues to progress satisfactorily.
  Mr. Speaker, a copy of the Task Force's ninth report is available on 
this Member's internet website: http://www.house.gov/bereuter/press.htm 
under the ``Speeches'' section.

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