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Clinton sets up HK taskforce

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THE Clinton administration has set up a taskforce on Hong Kong, linking government agencies in a bid to provide a coherent policy in the run-up to 1997.

The territory will also be subject next week to its first Congressional scrutiny for some time, when the Senate's Foreign Relations East Asian Affairs sub-committee devotes a hearing to recent developments here.

Also in Congress, senators have moved to amend the annual State Department bill to force officials into publishing another report on the territory next year - a year earlier than scheduled.

All three developments indicate that as US business links with the territory grow, the 1997 issue is looking larger in Washington's China policy.

The inter-agency group was set up without announcement in March, a spokesman confirmed.

It is headed by Assistant Secretary of State Winston Lord, and comprises senior officials from agencies which have regular dealings with the territory, including commerce, customs, immigration and the National Security Council.

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