    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 5, 1997]
    [Pages 543-544]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Hong Kong-United States
    Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement 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 of America and the Government of Hong Kong on
    Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, with Annex, signed in Hong
    Kong on April 15, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Agreement''). I
    transmit also, for the information of the Senate, a related exchange of
    letters, with attached forms, signed the same date, and the report of
    the Department of State with respect to the Agreement.
        The Agreement is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance
    treaties that the United States is negotiating in order to counter
    criminal activities more effectively. The Agreement should be an
    effective tool in our continued cooperation with Hong Kong after its
    reversion to the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China on July
    1, 1997, to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of modern
    criminals, including members of drug cartels, ``white-collar''
    criminals, and terrorists. The Agreement is self-executing.

    [[Page 544]]

        The Agreement provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal
    matters. Mutual assistance available under the Agreement includes: (1)
    taking evidence, testimony, or statements of persons; (2) providing
    information, documents, records, and items; (3) locating or identifying
    persons or items; (4) serving documents; (5) transferring persons in
    custody and others to provide assistance; (6) executing requests for
    search and seizure; (7) confiscating and forfeiting the proceeds and
    instrumentalities of crime and otherwise assisting in relation thereto;
    (8) delivering property, including lending exhibits or other items; and
    (9) any other form of assistance not prohibited by the law of the
    Requested Party.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Agreement and give its advice and consent to ratification so that
    the Agreement can enter into force no later than July 1, 1997, when Hong
    Kong reverts to the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 5, 1997.