    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 5, 1997]
    [Pages 544-545]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Hong Kong-United States Agreement
    on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons With Documentation
    May 5, 1997

    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the Government
    of the United States and the Government of Hong Kong for the Transfer of
    Sentenced Persons signed at Hong Kong on April 15, 1997. I transmit
    also, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of
    State with respect to this Agreement.
        At present, transfers of sentenced persons between the United States
    and Hong Kong (in either direction) are conducted pursuant to the 1983
    multilateral Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced
    Persons, which is in force for both the United States and the United
    Kingdom, and which the latter has extended to Hong Kong. Effective July
    1, 1997, however, when Hong Kong reverts to the sovereignty of the
    People's Republic of China, the Council of Europe Convention will no
    longer provide a basis for such transfers.
        The agreement signed on April 15, 1997, will provide a basis for
    such transfers to continue after Hong Kong's reversion. The agreement is
    modeled after both the Council of Europe Convention and other bilateral
    prisoner transfer treaties to which the United States is a party. It
    would establish essentially the same procedures as are now followed with
    respect to transfers of prisoners between the United States and Hong
    Kong, and would continue the requirement that all transfers be consented
    to by the sentencing state, the sentenced person, and the receiving
    state. When the sentenced person has been sentenced under the laws of a
    State of the United States, the consent of the authorities of that State
    will also be required.
        I recommend that the Senate of the United States promptly give its
    advice and consent to the ratification of this Agreement.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 5, 1997.

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