[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

IMPLICATIONS OF THE HAND OVER OF HONG KONG ON TAIWAN

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HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

of new york

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, July 22, 1997

Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, on June 30th of this year, British rule over
Hong Kong ended and the former British colony was returned to China. I
was honored to be a member of the congressional delegation to observe
the reversion of Hong Kong to PRC control. On that same day, as the
celebration was taking place in Hong Kong, Taiwan's President Lee Teng-
hui, authored an article which was published in USA Today discussing
the implications of the hand over of Hong Kong for the future relations
between the 21 million people living in a democratic society in Taiwan
and the more than one billion people who have yet to experience freedom
and democracy on the Chinese mainland. As President Lee correctly notes
in his article, The Republic of China has undergone a dramatic
transformation from a country operating under martial law to a full
fledged democracy with a vibrant market economy.
President Lee is justifiably proud of the achievements his country
has made in the past decade, much of which has taken place while
President Lee has been Taiwan's leader. President Lee states in this
article that he hopes the government on the Chinese mainland will
undergo a similar democratic transformation in the next decade but
properly notes that, to date, there has been little progress on the
mainland toward achieving the twin goals of freedom and justice.
President Lee believes when this transformation occurs on the mainland,
reunification across the Straits of Taiwan will become a reality.
Mr. Speaker, having seen Taiwan make the dramatic change to market-
oriented democracy, President Lee believes Hong Kong should be able to
maintain its democratic status and the Chinese mainland ought to
embrace democracy in the first decade of the 21st century. This is a
lofty goal, but one that I know all of my colleagues hope will occur.
In the meantime, we must look toward the island of Taiwan as a beacon
of democracy in a very complex and rapidly changing area of Southeast
Asia. In the light of the recent events in Hong Kong, I urge my
colleagues to read the article I included with my statement.

Taiwan Yields Model For a Free Hong Kong

(By Lee Teng-hui)

Today, the era of colonial rule will come to an end in Hong
Kong. This is a proud event for all Chinese wherever they
are, and offers a new opportunity for creating a democratic
Chinese nation. We earnestly hope that the Beijing
authorities will be able to maintain the prosperity and
stability of Hong Kong, and will ensure that the people of
Hong Kong continue to enjoy freedom, democracy and basic
human rights. This is the only way to act in accord with the
joint values and trends of mankind today, regional peace and
development, and the common dignity and interests of all
Chinese people.
Taiwan's experience offers reason for optimism.
A little more than one year ago, the Republic of China
successfully held a direct presidential election on Taiwan,
completing a crucial objective of our political reform. At
the time, the concept of constitutional government stressed
by Americans over two-hundred years ago kept coming to my
mind: ``. . . all Men are created equal, . . . they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, . .
. among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
. . . to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted
among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the
Government.''
Indeed, with the joint effort of the entire populace and
their government, the Republic of China has upheld the
principle of popular sovereignty on Taiwan, and has succeeded
in lifting martial law, liberalizing the formation of
political parties, realizing the practice of free speech, re-
electing all national parliamentarians who had been in office
for a long time, and carrying out a direct presidential
election. Through these endeavors, the Republic of China has
undergone profound change, and has become a full-fledged
democracy.
However, we cannot overlook the fact that still over 20
percent of the world's population, most of whom live on the
Chinese mainland, have no way to enjoy these rights. The
Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same
cultural and racial heritage. Thus, there is no reason why we
cannot jointly build a system of democracy and freedom, and
fully exercise our God-given rights.
In 1979, before martial law was lifted in Taiwan, a number
of protesters demonstrating against government censorship of
their magazine were arrested and jailed in what became known
as the Kaohsiung Incident. At the same time, the Chinese
communists authorities arrested the human rights activist Wei
Jingsheng. Today, many of those involved in the Kaohsiung
Incident have redeemed themselves through the ballot box and
have become important elected political leaders on Taiwan.
However, Mr. Wei remains in jail. The marked differences in
systems and values between the two sides are the fundamental
reason why each of the two parts of the China we all want to
see reunified one day still remain separate political
entities.
Democracy has become a world trend, and is without doubt
the greatest achievement of mankind this century. One reason
civilization continues to progress is that we have the
courage to realize our dreams, and we have the heart to care
about each other and provide mutual support. We must continue
to uphold this spirit and sentiment, so that democracy
ultimately becomes the common way of life of all humanity.
May people living in every corner of the global village enjoy
democracy!
Thus, we cherish the young buds of democracy on the Chinese
mainland. Certain forms of election in rural townships and
villages have spread on the mainland in recent years. We are
happy to see it succeed and call on the Chinese mainland
authorities to show the courage and determination to boldly
take the grand route to democracy. Join with us and bring
democracy to all of Chinese society, seeking everlasting
well-being and peace for the Chinese people!
Unquestionably, if Taiwan can achieve democracy, then Hong
Kong should be able to maintain democracy, and there is no
reason why the Chinese mainland can not do everything
possible to head in that direction. This is the true way to
solve the China problem.
In the 21st century, Mankind will certainly prove that
``All roads lead to Democracy!''

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