Show Tha Herald Journal Logan Utah Tuesday 1 April 1907 — Page 7 Hong Kong media anxiously await Chinese rule HONG KONG (AP) — Next Media Group’s public offering looked to be a profitable prospect for Hong Kong’s stock market Its flagship magazine Next is i ? v the territory's most popular weekly But Next Media never made it to market The underwriter backed out last month and no one else would sign on The business-me- n insisted it was purely a business decision but many suspected their reluctance was fed by the very stuff of Next's success: its relentless criticism of China's communist rulers Even before China’s People’s Liberation Army marches in on July 1 Hong Kong’s media — the part that isn’t funded by China — feel besieged Beijing has signaled that its pledge to preserve Hong Kong’s capitalist ways for SO years does not fully cover its media long regarded as Asia’s freest Chinese leaders have weakened legal guarantees on Hong Kong’s freedom of expression and warned reporters to steer clear of sensitive subjects They sre suspected of withholding advertising money and business deals from media outlets deemed too critical China’s defenders say Beijing doesn’t want to interfere in Hong Kong a huge source of investment for its economic reforms three in ten admitted to doing so TV stations have refused to air controversial forthemselves g eign documentaries on Mao and Chinese orphanages “It's an alarming situation It's no good to the public It infringes Tse-tun- on their right to know” said Mak who works at but also doesn’t want Hong Kong’s media to free-thinki- ng influence the communist country “There will be no problem as long as there is no spillover” said Edgar Yuen board member of the Hong Kbng Federation of Journalists pro-Chi- na In this uncertain climate journalists worried about their future have turned to “There is a general fear among of reporters” said Mak Yin-tin- g the independent Hong Kong Journalists Association An Association survey in 1995 found that 90 percent of journalists believed tnat colleagues and bosses were toning down reports to avoid offending China Nearly Gingrich speaking his mind in China government-owne- d Radio Television Hong Kong But Hong Kong is already “too politicized” according to Tung Chee-hw- a the shipping magnate chosen to lead the government Tung and his supporters believe Hong Kong needs a Are wall to deny Beijing any excuse to meddle That means reporters can write post-colon- ial freely about causes China regards as subversive China increasingly uses its subversion laws to silence dissent Beijing has ordered Hong Kong to draw up its own code Media members are concerned about how it will be used In a chilling signal China on is thought to be attuned to in a goodwill gesture West- ern ways could make such an Lu Ping Beijing's official in charge of Hong Kong affairs has justified limits on media as normal For instance he said to CNN last year was it not illegal in the United Stales to advocate Hawaiian independence? Many in Hong Kong were shucked that Lu who error China's legislature last month voted to dilute Hong Kong’s Bill of Rights and repealed two laws that had made it easier to hold public protests and form associations with foreign groups 1WW arrested a reporter for Hong Kong's Ming Pao in 1993 for revealing Chinese interest rate is changes and gold sales Xi Yang was freed in January four years into his prison sentence closer than you think (So is April 15rh) 12-ye- ar mams nan mi Hong Kong’s domestic shortcomings but will have to handle China stories with caution Senior Chinese officials set the limits during comments last year no attacks on the Beijing leadership no advocating independence Bulk Beat fair way around fa tax axis belter Aon die professionals at H&R Block No one knows Our experienced preparers can help you pay leu or get more back Our I dbenind rates are reasonable we our work Sound Kite someone you and packaged Logan 547 Prnston N Main 752-165- 1 852-14- 10 N Stata 20 Weekday 9 am - 8 pm Extended Hours: Sat Sam - 5 pm Weekday 9 am - 9 pm Sat 9am - 5 pm 89 Weal Canter for Taiwan or Tibet or other use? 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ANDERSON am Open a Zions Bank WASHINGTON (AP) — Newt Gingrich’s blunt talk in China about defending Taiwan appeared to cause some heartburn in the White House It was the kind of candor that the administration’s Home Equity Credit Line AND PEOPLE will think own foreign policy chiefs dare not use As House speaker with no direct responsibility for administration foreign policy Gingrich had more leeway to speak his mind on the world stage — and did During his own visit to China last week Vice President A1 Gore was more circumspect sticking to you're a financial genius standard themes and avoiding comments on what the Cublic States would do if Chinn used force to reunite Taiwan witk mt the mainland To Gore’s delight Gingrich said while in China last weekend that he was “broadly” in agree- ment with the administration’s 9 i I t I I I 9 9 9 9 9 I nation In a conversation with Gore before the vice president left for his Asia trip Gingrich stressed the importance of speaking with one voice on China On the matter of Taiwan however Gingrich seemed to cause some White House distress by expressing a commitment to Taiwan’s security that is implied but not stated explicitly in the 1979 9 t policy toward the communist 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 Taiwan Relations Act which governs No US policy Asked whether that bothered President Ginton White House Points No Fees press secretary Mike McCurry at first said Gingrich “spoke for himself” in China and was wel- : come to do so "We are never discouraged $ when members of Congress take the time to explore the parameters of US engagement overseas and relationship as particularly in a US-Sino relthe as important ationship” McCurry told reporters Later McCurry added that Gingrich’s Taiwan remarks were a “shorthand version” of an American policy that is more complex than Gingrich’s comments suggest Gingrich leading a bipartisan delegation of 1 1 congressmen touring Asia said Sunday he told a senior Chinese official there was no doubt how the United States would respond if China te - used force to reunite with Taiwan “We will defend Taiwan Period” Gingrich said That “period” is more like a “question mark” in the Taiwan Relations Act which states that any act to determine the future of Taiwan by “other than peaceful means” would be of “grave concern” to the United States It also says the president would consult with Congress in deciding how to fs!ecretary of State Madeleine Albright used that very language Monday at the United Nations where she told reporters: Wc have always said that first of all we have a 'one China’ policy second that we would like the : issues between Taiwan and China to be worked out peacefully that the security of Taiwan is of great importance to the United States and if there were any force used matter of by the Chinese that is a grave concern to the United States” The smart way to borrow money and mentioned in the same sentence See any genius worth their IQ knows that a line of credit that gives interest you thing kind of strange and lets you access 100 happens Suddenly your of the equity you have in name and genius are being your home is a veiy smart Buy a new kitchen pay college tuition or get something you’ve always wanted with our Home Equiiy Credit Line and some- tax-deducti- ble CtJ no closing fees To way to borrow Plus for the first six months after find out more simply call LOAN or stop you obtain your credit line we'll give you an by any Zions Bank branch introductofy 590 annual vwvziombankcom percentage rate (APR) And there are no origination fees no appraisal fees 71-8- 61-7- oduri7-dJ- r lW - m - BANK ZIONS FDIC r Member -s Mr “ mo"h‘ month introductory rate ie 6901 Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Ue regular varmWe rate which wtll ukeeffert lr yrntr regular and the prime in ere rate A of 32697 the prime me ie 850 Currently tf your ban ttviJu taftoi mi veTl 00 H prime plu vourWiUr rate will be prime phie I 34 (1026 APR): 0 pnm ph 2 (1060 APRlI-9- 0 value 0 tn the rate baaed on Sion Bank' prime rare k defined in the loan document mn All rate arc pnm effort maximum APR ia 18 ‘r h is made for any check or draft Actual Property valuta will he determined by the hank A SI5 charge financml admor about tax dwtuctbdgr 62SOOOO Lme below Ak line credit i available on your offer aaaemed will be 660 he equity The apecial Km tnyowkom A b 5: p:'rwV JC fT feyA X'- ” |