Speech #1030012429

Yesterday. I introduced a bill designed to alleviate the concern felt by some of Hong Kongs media and counteract the need for selfcensorship among Hong Kongs professional press corps. This bill will extend 1.500 visas to Hong Kong reporters and their spouses and dependent children and would allow the reporters to exercise these visas any time between January 1. 1997 and January 1. Individuals who are nationals of Hong Kong or China. whose principal employment or source of income for the 3 years prior to their application for this special visa has been the news mediaincluding print. radio. and televisionand whose welfare or safety is likely to be subject to threats or harassment due directly to the journalists work In the news media in Hong Kong would be eligible for these visas. I anticipate that the 1.500 visas made available by this bill would extend special immigrant status to between 300 and 500 reporters and their immediate family members. While this is only a portion of the reporters working in Hong Kong. it is a substantial number for a colony with a population of 5.8 million and will form a core group immune from Chinese pressures. The goal of this bill is not. of course. to encourage the Hong Kong press corps to emi-