DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=HONG KONG / TAIWAN / CHINA
NUMBER=5-46361
BYLINE=GRACE CUTLER
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  As China and Taiwan struggle with the 
difficult issue of possible reunification, questions 
arise about whether the "one country - two systems" 
model will work for Taiwan as it has for Hong Kong. 
VOA's Grace Cutler tells more. 

TEXT:  In the days since Taiwan President Chen Shui-
bian took office (May 20th), Beijing's insistence that 
the island reunite with China has dominated political 
and media circles.

Attention is now focusing on the formula by which 
Taiwan could be governed by Beijing: the so-called 
one-country-two-systems. Under the proposed policy, 
Taiwan would retain a certain level of economic and 
political autonomy -- including its market economy, 
free speech, and judicial independence.

Hong Kong and the former Portuguese territory of Macau 
have already been reunited with the mainland under 
similar plans. In the three years since reverting to 
Chinese rule, Hong Kong has generally been seen as a 
success story.  The territory's economic and political 
freedoms remain largely intact.

But not everyone believes the Hong Kong model will 
ultimately work. Some human rights activists and 
Taiwanese officals say Hong Kong's leaders have 
already bowed to Beijing at the territory's expense.

Chen Pochih, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Planning 
and Development, says Hong Kong's freedom of speech 
and its economy are suffering under reunification and 
if his island adopts that policy, it will mean the 
same in Taiwan. 

/// CHEN ACT ///

Many businessmen in Hong Kong, they do not criticize 
China. In Taiwan we still have this possibility, this 
power.  We feel if we depend economically on China, 
the freedom of speech in Taiwan about Chinese politics 
will automatically be reduced by market force. 

/// END ACT ///

Besides keeping its economic freedom, Taiwan is 
concerned about its legal independence.  Analysts say 
Beijing has meddled in Hong Kong's immigration policy 
- sparking controversy over how much power Hong Kong's 
independent judiciary has in issues of concern to 
Beijing.

Michael DeGolyer of Hong Kong's Baptist University 
tracks the progress of the territory's transition to 
Chinese rule.  He says the problems Hong Kong is 
experiencing under the one country two systems model 
arise from local leaders pandering to Beijing and an 
ill-defined interpretation of laws governing that 
system. He adds, if Taiwan were peacefully reunited 
with mainland China, many of the pitfalls in the Hong 
Kong model could be avoided with a more clearly 
defined relationship with Beijing.

/// DEGOYLER ACT ///

With the addition of Taiwan I think by that time you 
are going to have the advantages of having a written 
constitution stipulating the relationship and the 
limits of power exercised locally and exercised 
centrally which is going to be seen [as] so 
advantageous by all the other provinces.

/// END ACT ///

But Minister Chen says Taiwan can not give up its 
current status until Beijing embraces democratic 
principles.  He says Taiwan has exerted an important 
influence on China and its decision to open up its 
economy.

/// CHEN ACT ///

In the past our success in our economic development 
was a major reason for the economic policy 
transformation in China.  Our success led China to 
give up their central planning economy to get into 
market economy. And I hope in the future, our success 
in our democracy can be another example for china to 
change their political ideology.

/// END ACT ///

Despite China's increased efforts to get Taiwan to 
become part of the mainland, it is apparent it will 
not come anytime soon. It took years to hammer out the 
agreement by which Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule. 
The issues between Taipei and Beijing promise to be 
far more complex. (Signed)

NEB/HK/GC/JO/KBK 

 



23-May-2000 09:52 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1352 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.