[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 10 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Page 284]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Transmitting the Hong Kong-United States 
Extradition Agreement

March 3, 1997

To the Congress of the United States:

    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification as a treaty, I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of Hong 
Kong for the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders signed at Hong Kong on 
December 20, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Agreement''). In 
addition, I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report of 
the Department of State with respect to the Agreement. As a treaty, this 
Agreement will not require implementing legislation.
    This Agreement will, upon entry into force, enhance cooperation 
between the law enforcement communities of the United States and Hong 
Kong, and will provide a framework and basic protections for 
extraditions after the reversion of Hong Kong to the sovereignty of the 
People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997. Given the absence of an 
extradition treaty with the People's Republic of China, this Treaty 
would provide the means to continue an extradition relationship with 
Hong Kong after reversion and avoid a gap in law enforcement. It will 
thereby make a significant contribution to international law enforcement 
efforts.
    The provisions in this Agreement follow generally the form and 
content of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. 
In addition, the Agreement contains several provisions specially 
designed in light of the particular status of Hong Kong. The Agreement's 
basic protections for fugitives are also made expressly applicable to 
fugitives surrendered by the two parties before the new treaty enters 
into force.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Agreement and give its advice and consent to its ratification as 
a treaty.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
March 3, 1997.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
March 5.