ON A CHARM OFFENSIVE

The chief assures America it's business as usual

HONG KONG'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE knew his first official trip to Washington could be onerous. Perhaps that's why Tung Chee-hwa went to see old friends in Singapore and Malaysia first. There were no awkward questions about new electoral arrangements in Hong Kong which may disadvantage the democratic parties next May. Nor did anyone echo the opinion floating around Washington that, despite all his talk about livelihood issues, Tung's natural constituencies are China and Big Business.

Hong Kong opposition leader Martin Lee Chu-ming likened Tung's warm Southeast Asia welcome to a "reception for a new member to the community of newly independent countries." In short, a love-in.

America, of course, is quite different -- and Tung's handlers ensured the boss was well-armed for his Sept. 9 speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Tung took his audience through a brief history of Hong Kong politics and argued that by 2007, the city will have more democracy than it did during 156 years of British rule. He gently rebuked U.S. media for biased coverage, and referred to prominently played photos of the Chinese army entering Hong Kong on handover eve.

"Yes, PLA soldiers did come," said Tung. "They moved into barracks formerly occupied by British soldiers. To us it was a natural part of the resumption of sovereignty." Tung and others believe that sometimes ignorant reporting has in part prompted U.S. officials to take a harder line on Hong Kong. Awareness of Asian affairs in general is low in the U.S. After Tung's speech, a member of the audience asked if South and North Korea could learn anything from China's resumption of Hong Kong. "That," said Tung, "is not one I've thought about."

Tung had originally planned to visit Washington before July, but postponed after Lee got to Bill Clinton first. It was worth the wait; after 10 trouble-free weeks in office, Tung could credibly say: "It's business as usual." He promised to continue free-market policies -- and noted wryly that Hong Kong is still averaging some 40 demonstrations a month. Continuity was sure to play well in America. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright squeezed Tung into her hectic schedule, and 200-plus powerbrokers attended a reception held by Chinese ambassador Li Daoyu. "There's a good turnout from the Hill," said Singapore Ambassador Chan Heng Chee. "That's what counts."

Still, suspicion about Tung's electoral changes will not go away any time soon. After an hour-long meeting between Tung and nine senators, Republican Sen. Craig Thomas acknowledged "things have gone smoothly." Nonetheless, he hoped they would "move a little faster than they probably will." Besides Clinton, Tung's hardest sell was Sen. Jesse Helms; he refers to "Red China" and proposes a bill urging Tung to hold a referendum on elections. One thing is sure: If Hong Kong's popular democratic parties lose badly next May, Tung will have a lot more explaining to do.

-- By Robin Ajello with reporting from Alejandro Reyes / Washington and Law Siu-lan / Hong Kong