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“REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 105-3” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S1846 on March 3, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 105-3
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the Injunction of Secrecy be removed from the following treaty submitted to the Senate on March 3, 1997, by the President of the United States: Agreement with Hong Kong for the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (Treaty Document No. 105-3). I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time, that it be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed, and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The President's message is as follows:
To the Senate 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.
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