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Following is a transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, after meetings with US political leaders in Washington DC today (April 7, Hong Kong time):

Mr Tung: I arrived here this morning and have had an opportunity to meet a number of Senators and Congressmen. The purpose of my visit is really to be able to tell our friends on Capitol Hill how well for the last two and a half years 'One Country, Two Systems' has been successfully implemented and how well Hong Kong has recovered from the impact of the financial turmoil. But the main purpose of my visit is really to explain to Senators and Congressmen the importance of the PNTR legislation. It is of course very important to Hong Kong that this legislation is passed. It is important to China. But it is very important to the United States of America too. I understand that the House of Representatives will be taking a vote during the week of May 22 and I hope, I believe, I certainly hope the House will come to the right decision.

Question: (Greg Torode, SCMP): About the prospects that if PNTR does pass there might be some legislation that is effectively is like MFN before, that every year that Congress always used China, various aspects of China . . . does it worry you?

Mr Tung: It is somewhat of a worry but the point is that it would be very detrimental to the United States of America for this to happen because the Europeans and Japanese would take advantage of this. It just doesn't make common sense.

Question: (Charles Snyder, Hong Kong Standard): I was wondering whether the question of export controls and the claim that Hong Kong may be used as a transshipment point for sensitive technology to China, whether that was raised? And whether today's story about Lockheed selling Asiasat, or giving Asiasat sensitive technology whether that was a concern and whether you have any comments?

Mr Tung: Well I just want to respond to you in this way and that is we will strictly enforce the strategic arms controls regime we have. We have done that before we will continue to do that. Thank you very much.

Chief Executive's transcript in Washington (Chinese part)

End/Friday, April 7, 2000

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