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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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