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HK urges Taiwan

on future talks

with China

HONG KONG: Taiwan should begin negotiations with China on its future as soon as possible, a spokesman for Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa said on Saturday, citing the former British colony's experience under Chinese rule.

"As far as we are concerned the fact that one country, two systems has worked so well in Hong Kong is testimony to people in Taiwan that they should really sit down and talk sooner rather than later," said spokesman Stephen Lam.

"You know we've been through all this ourselves in Hong Kong. People were naturally concerned about the future when this was discussed," he said. "The future by definition is uncertain. But it's much better for negotiations to begin sooner rather than later because then you have a participatory role in determining your future."

When asked whether Tung would convey that message to Cohen, Lam said, the chief executive regularly made that point to visiting foreign dignitaries. Lam made the comments to reporters as US Defense Secretary William Cohen met with Tung to discuss Hong Kong's experience since reverting to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997.

Cohen was expected to emphasise the importance of maintaining the long tradition of US naval port visits here.

Port cells by US warships were suspended by Beijing after the United States accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in May 1999.

The ship visits resumed in September and since than 19 US ships have visited Hong Kong, Lam said.ÑAFP