U.S. Wants Hong Kong Drug Help

By LAURA MYERS

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. drug and law enforcement officials expressed
confidence Thursday that it will be ``business as usual'' in getting police
cooperation after Hong Kong reverts to Chinese rule.

But skeptical lawmakers said they aren't so sure an authoritarian Beijing,
often suspicious of U.S. motives, will collaborate to catch crooks after the
United Kingdom cedes control July 1. The island is a nexus for international
trafficking in drugs, immigrants and money laundering.

``Isn't it true that, really, none of you has any idea of what China will do
to cooperate?'' Sen. Joseph Biden, DDel., asked Clinton administration
officials at a congressional hearing. ``It's almost like trying to read the
entrails of goats. ... Even they don't know what they're going to do yet.

``I'm not at all sure Beijing will in fact honor the `onecountry,
twosystem' policy,'' he added, referring to communist China's promise of
Hong Kong autonomy. ``You're going to be in a world of hurt pretty soon.''

Sen. Craig Thomas, RWyo., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific affairs, said he called the hearing
because of concern China was removing freedoms in Hong Kong.

Although Hong Kong is supposed to have an independent judiciary and
legislature, China appointed a committee to run things for a year. And the
governmentinwaiting this week detailed limits it would put on Hong Kong
liberties, such as requiring police approval for protests.

On mainland China, the government has for several years refused U.S.
government requests for the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Drug
Enforcement Agency to open a liaison office in Beijing, he also noted.

``The Chinese are quick to point to the entire matter as an `internal' one in
which we have no legitimate interest,'' Thomas said. ``But we have a direct
and undisputed interest in ensuring a continued U.S. law enforcement presence
in'' Hong Kong.

Officials representing the DEA, FBI, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, the State Department, Treasury and the attorney general assured
lawmakers they expect no changes in their relationships with Hong Kong. They
described the current working associations with the royal Hong Kong police as
outstanding, leading to extradition to the United States of 67 suspects for
prosecution since 1991, mostly on drug charges.

``We do not anticipate any interruption in our operation,'' said James
Milford Jr., acting deputy DEA administrator.

Alan Ringgold, deputy assistant FBI director, said his agency has had
difficulties persuading Beijing to let U.S. law enforcement open an office
there, but otherwise he has been assured of future cooperation. The FBI is
operating on the assumption ``that it will be business as usual in Hong
Kong,'' he said.

Phyllis Cover, director of international affairs for the INS, said she
expects to expand the working relationship with Hong Kong to combat the
increase in immigrant smuggling amid the changeover in rule.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mark Richard said he's hoping to increase
law enforcement on intellectual property issues protecting business secrets
where not much progress has been made.