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Home My WebLink AboutRES 071 Draft 01 1988-1992OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: Ju 1 y 5 , 1989 Action: Approve and adopt Resolution No. 71-89. Re: HSRC-18 (Res. 71-89) COUNTY OF HAW'a,~~ ;=;,~STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION No. ~~ 89 WHEREAS, recent student demonstrations for democracy, freedom of expression and political reform in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China were confronted and attacked by government troops and tanks in June 1989; and WHEREAS, several thousand Chinese people were reportedly killed by the military at Tiananmen Square during the confrontation with the demonstrators; and WHEREAS, an estimated 40,000 Chinese students are curren*_ly attending colleges throughout the United States and over 200 of these students are in the State of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, President George Bush has ordered that Chinese visitors and students in the United States can ex*_end their stay for one more year by applying for an extension to the U.S. Immigration Service; and WHEREAS, the political conflicts and repression in China may not be ended within one year and may still pose a potential threat to Chinese now in the United States when they return to China in the future; and WHEREAS, President Bush could order an indefinite extension of voluntary departure rights for Chinese students and visitors in the United States, by allowing visas to be extended until they feel that it is safe to return to their homeland. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it respectfully requests President George Bush to extend indefinite voluntary departure rights for Chinese students and visitors in the United States. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable J. Danforth Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate; the Honorable Thomas Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, President Pro Tempore, United States Senate; the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye and the Honorable Spark M. Matsunaga, United States Senators, *_he Honorable Daniel Akaka and the Honorable Patricia Saiki, United States Representatives. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 5th day of Julv , 1989. INTRODUCED BY: ~~x OUNCI~LMEMBER, COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on July ~ 19 g9 ATTEST: ~G ~~~lv~~T~ . J OUN CLER CHAIRMAN & PRES DING OFFICER ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX DOMINGO HALE INOUYE KOKUBUN LAI MAKUAKANE RUDDLE SCHUTTE YAMASHIRO Reference HS RC-1 g RESOLUTION NO. '7S. $9 RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN Chairman & Presiding Officer MERLE K. LA[ Vice-Chairwoman ~.~LI,~TI' ~.~~l~Cll. County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Auquni Street Hilo, Hataaii 96720 July 10, 1989 The Honorable George Bush President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D. C. 20500 Enclosed is a copy of Resolution No. 71-89 which was adopted by the Council of the County of Hawaii on July 5, 1989. ~~~ ohn A. Wagner ~"""" COUNTY CLERK Encl. TAKASHIDOMINGO HELENG H. HALE LORRAINE R. 1NOUYE ROBERT H. MAKUAKANE HARRY S. RUDDLE SPENCER K. SCHUTTE STEPHEN K. Y':~\t:~SHIRO Also sent to attached list: 1. The Hon. J. Danforth Quayle Vice-Pres. of the U.S. and Pres. of the Senate 286 Old Exec. Office Bldg. Wash., D. C. 20500 2. The Hon. Daniel K. Inouye ti. S. Senator 722 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Wash., D. C. 20510 3. The Hon. Spark M. T4atsunaga U. S. Senator 722 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Wash., D. C. 20510 4. The Hon. Daniel K. Akaka U. S. Rep. 2301 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Wash., D. C. 20515-11.02 5. The Hon. Patricia Saiki U. S. Rep. 1407 Longworth House Office Bldg. Wash., D. C. 2051.5-1101 6. The Hon. Thomas Foley Speaker of the House The Capitol, Room H-204 Washington, D. C. 20515 7. The Hon. Robert C. Byrd President Pro Tempo re, U. S. Senate The Capitol, Room S-206 Wash., D. C. 20510 MAJOflITY MEMBERS JACK BROOKS, TE%AS. CHAIPMAN ROBERT W. KASTENMEIEP. WISCONSIN ONE HUNDRED FIRS7 CONGRESS DON EDWAfl08, CALIFORNIA JOHN CONYEPS, JR.. MICHIGAN POMANO L MAIIOLI, KENTUCKY reo~ of the ~nite~ ~tateo ~on WILLIAM J. HUGHES, NEW JERSEY ~ MIKE SYNAP, OKLAHOMA , PATflICIA SCHROEDEP. COLOMDO DAN GLICKMAN, KANSAS re~entatlues '31~o11$e of 'Re BAPNEY FRANK, MASSACHUSETTS p GEO. W. CROCKETT, JR., MICHIGAN CHAPLES E. SCHUMEP. NEW YORK COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY BRUCE A. MORRISON. CONNECTICUT EDWARD F. fEIGHAN. OHIO uWRENCE J. SMITH. FLORIDA 2138 RAV BU RN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING HOWAPO L. BEPMAN. CALIFORNIA RICK BOUCHER, VIRGINIA HgRLEY O. STAGGERS. JP.. WEBT VIRGINIA WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6216 JOHN BPYANT, TEJfAS BENJAMIN L CAPDIN. MAINLAND GEORGE E SANGMEISTER, ILLINOIS July 20, 1989 Mr. John A. Wagner County Clerk County Council County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Wagner: MINOPITV MEMBERS HAMILTON FISH, JR.. NEW YORK CARLOS J. MOORHEAD, CAIIFORNIA HENRY J. HYDE, ILLINOIS F. JAMES SENSENBPENNER, JR.. WISCONSIN BILL McCOL W M. FLORIDA GEORGE W. GEKAS. PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL DEWINE, OHIO WILLIAM E. DANNEMEVER. CALIFORNIA XOWARD COBLE. XORTX CAflOLINA D. FRENCH SLAUGHTER. JN.. VIRGINIA IAMAR S. SMITN, TEAS LARKIN I. SMITH, MISSISSIPPI CHUCK DOUGUS. NEW HAMPSHIRE CMIG T. JAMEB. FLORIDA MAIOPITY-336-3951 MINOflITY-336-8908 This is to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter and Resolution No. 71-89 requesting indefinite voluntary departure rights for Chinese students and visitors in the United States. Please be assured this matter will be given careful consideration. REPORT OF TI1E COMMITTEc ON HUMAN SERVICES AND RE(.n~ATION DATE: June 28, 1989 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 9:25 a.m. Chairman and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Recreation to which was referred Resolution No. 71-89, reports as follows: The purpose of Resolution No. 71-89 is to respectfully request President George Bush to extend indefinite voluntary departure rights for Chinese students and visitors in the United States._ The following documents were circulated at the meeting: Support letters from Chancellor Edward J. Kormondy, Chancellor, University of Hawaii at Hilo; Kenneth A. Wong of Hilo; and Donald Tong of Hilo; Resolution No. 89-279 and Resolution No. 89-280, which were adopted by the City Council, City and County of Honolulu; An article entitled "China students are ambivalent over returning" from The Honolulu Advertiser, June 7, 1989; and An editorial entitled "Responding to China" from The Honolulu Advertiser, June 23, 1989. Your Committee Chairwoman stated that she is five-eights Chinese, is concerned about recent events in China, felt strongly about what occurred there and has urged her colleagues to join her in supporting Resolution No. 71-89. She stated that she received the following letters and telephone calls in support of the resolution: calls from Mrs. Beatrice Lau and Mr. Chong and letters from Chancellor Edward Kormondy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Mr. Kenneth Wong, who is the President of the Chinese Civic Association, and Mr. Donald Tong. She read Chancellor Kormondy's letter into the record and noted that there are 30 Chinese students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. She stated that the resolutions from Honolulu were good but she feels that Resolution No. 71-89 is more constructive. NS RC REPORT N0. 18 ADOPTED: ~!I)i =: 1984 HSRC-18 Page 2 June 28, 1989 A Committee member stated his support for Resolution No. 71-89 but questioned the sixth "Whereas," which allows "visas to be extended until they [the Chinese visitors and students in the United States] feel that it is safe to return to their homeland." He stated that he thinks that the Council can't tell the government how and when they should allow individuals to return home and that the power to do that lies within the government, which controls the visas, not the individual Chinese. Later in the meeting, he also stated that he had received a call from a concerned American citizen who is caring for a couple of Chinese immigrants who have received threatening letters and calls from the Republic of China and he is concerned about human rights. A Councilmember who is not a Committee member stated support for the resolution the way it is and made the following points: 1. Students here have contacts in China and they should be the ones to determine when it is safe to return home; 2. This is not setting a precedent for any other nationalities as this is a peculiar situation. Your Chairwoman explained that she has been in touch with the Immigration Office and the attorney who will be representing the Chinese in the State of Hawaii, Mr. William Hoshijo. She has also contacted Representative Saiki's office and learned that similar positions will be introduced in Congress. Your Chairwoman then read into the record an editorial from the 3altimore Sun stating that Chinese students have reason to be concerned that there names may be blacklisted at home. Another Committee member stated his support for the resolution. Your Committee Chairwoman stated that she would also send it the resolution to the Chinese Counsel General. Your Committee finds that President George Bush has taken a commendable action by ordering that Chinese visitors and students are eligible for visa extensions of one year. Your Committee further finds that because political conflicts and repression in China may not be ended within one year, an indefinite extension of voluntary departure rights would give greater peace of mind to the Chinese students and visitors in the United States. Your Committee further finds that the indefinite extension would be a humanitarian act. The following documents were circulated at the meeting: Your Committee concurred with the Chairwoman's recommendation to approve the resolution. HSRC-18 LA/TW Page 3 June 28, 1989 Your Committee on Human Services and Recreation is in accord with the aurpose of Resolution No. 71-89 and recommends its adoption by the