American attention on Hong Kong reached a new height last week when the territory played host to several Congressional delegations, including one led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.
In between the marathon sessions of the Budget special finance committee meetings, Legislative Councillors found time to meet their US counterparts to brief them about '1997'.
One diplomat said future meetings between foreign parliamentarians and members of the provisional legislature are unthinkable because no self-respecting Western politician would want to be associated with that controversial body.
It is a pity Vice-President Al Gore, who visited China last week, did not include Hong Kong in his itinerary. As The New York Times pointed out, 'With less than 100 days to go before China regains control over Hong Kong, he should be visiting the city to demonstrate American support for its liberties.' With growing international interest, the future of Hong Kong is a subject of international concern. For my part, I do what I can under a hectic Legislative Council schedule to meet foreign visitors.
In March I gave 24 face-to-face interviews to foreign journalists and another dozen to non-journalists. I also did countless interviews over the phone. During my four days in Toronto, I gave many more interviews.
Why do I bother? Why do pro-democracy politicians travel all over the world to talk about Hong Kong? There is a feeling that the more international attention there is on Hong Kong, the less likely the Chinese Government will crack down on us too harshly.
The Chinese Government will mobilise all its brutal tools of repression if it feels its control is threatened.