President Lee Teng-hui this afternoon addressed Chinese and foreign journalists on the Hong Kong issue at a tea party which was hosted by Vice President and Premier Lien Chan at Taipei Guest House. The full text of the President's speech is as follows:
Vice President and Premier Lien; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am delighted to be here to meet with so many members of the international press at today's tea party hosted by Vice President and Premier Lien Chan. Most of you have come directly from Hong Kong, and I believe this illustrates the high level of international concern and attention for the reversion of Hong Kong and the territory's future development. The government of the Republic of China is, of course, doubly concerned and attaches even greater importance to this momentous event in Chinese history.
Hong Kong is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory, and we are pleased that 155 years of British colonial rule in the territory have come to an end. At this critical juncture of profound and far-reaching significance, it is our hope that Hong Kong will continue to enjoy freedom, stability, prosperity and the rule of law, and that the seeds of democracy so recently planted there will grow and blossom. Only so, will Hong Kong be able to bid a truly meaningful farewell to its colonial era.
The Republic of China has always been deeply concerned about developments in Hong Kong and the welfare of our compatriots there. We attach great importance to our relations with Hong Kong, and therefore have taken a number of concrete measures to provide better services to our fellow Chinese there and to promote Taiwan's relations with the territory. These measures include maintaining our agencies in Hong Kong and formulating laws to govern bilateral relations. With these measures in place, we look forward to the continuing expansion of Taiwan's relations with Hong Kong.
Under the Treaty of Nanking, the island of Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842. This was followed by the Convention of Peking, which 137 years ago forced China to give up Kowloon. Then 99 years ago, the New Territories were leased to Britain under the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong. Presently, all of these three original documents are well preserved in the ROC. My point here is that the Republic of China was established, following the collapse of the Manchu government, 86 years ago, and it has continued to exist as a sovereign state despite a change in the area under its jurisdiction in 1949. We will continue to pay close attention to Hong Kong. Furthermore, we call on Peking to adopt a substantive approach that creates a favorable environment in which this international center of finance, trade and transshipment will continue and flourish.
Regardless of whether it is viewed from a historical or political standpoint, Taiwan differs categorically from Hong Kong. While Peking may have applied its "one country, two systems" formula to establish its rule in Hong Kong, its plan to take the same approach with Taiwan is mere wishful thinking. The Republic of China, with jurisdiction over the Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu area, is a full-fledged democracy, and the vast majority of the people do not support this model of unification proposed by Peking.
In our pursuit of national unification, we are concerned not only about form, but more so about substance. Specifically, Taiwan, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau must be united under the principles of democracy, freedom and equitable prosperity. Until this ultimate goal is realized, neither of the two political entities on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is subordinate to the other. Each must have a reasonable room for international activities, and each must stress rationality and pragmatism in its relations with the other. We must ensure that the cross-strait issue, a legacy from the past, is resolved in a peaceful manner.
In fact, the ROC has devoted considerable effort to improving cross-strait relations. To show our sincerity for creating peace in the Taiwan Strait, I proclaimed the end of the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion in 1991, as well as renounced the use of force to resolve the national unification issue. In my inaugural address of May last year, I further expressed my willingness to embark on a "journey of peace" to the Chinese mainland. However, these positive steps--which the Chinese people and the entire world have witnessed--have yet to receive a similar response from the mainland authorities. To this day, they are advocating "peaceful unification" while refusing to abandon the use of force against Taiwan. This hegemonic attitude not only seriously undermines the normalization of cross-strait relations, but also grossly threatens peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Let me reiterate here that the six-point proposal that I put forward on April 8, 1995, together with my statement of October 21, 1996, still serve as the foundation for ROC's policy toward cross-strait relations. We must ensure that maximum consensus emerges out of my six-point proposal and the eight-point proposal of Mr. Jiang Zemin. Nothing good will come out of one side forcing its will on the other. We believe that only if the two sides can resolve their differences and seek the greatest common ground can we ensure an even brighter future for cross-strait relations. We also believe that all Chinese people will welcome reform and liberalization on the Chinese mainland, just as they will welcome the consolidation of democracy and economic liberalization on Taiwan and continued progress and prosperity in Hong Kong.
The reversion of Hong Kong has just been completed. As the democratically elected president of the Republic of China, I would like to take this historic opportunity to solemnly proclaim that Taiwan is not Hong Kong. The determination and achievements of the 21.5 million people of the Republic of China on Taiwan, in their pursuit of democracy and defense of freedom, cannot be ignored or negated. We shall never give up our democratic institutions, just as we will never abandon our hope for peace. It is our belief that with wisdom and patience, together we can surely create a new era of mutual benefit and co-prosperity for Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
Thank you.