[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 19 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Page 651]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Hong Kong-United States Agreement 
on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons

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.