Summit to urge free elections in Hong Kong
Meeting of 8 leaders ends Sunday with communiqué
June 22, 1997
Web posted at: 10:32 a.m. EDT (1432 GMT)DENVER (CNN) — The Summit of the Eight headed toward a close Sunday, with the world leaders preparing to release a final statement in which they are expected to urge China to guarantee free elections in Hong Kong.
The leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States were to hold a final session before wrapping up the summit with a series of news conferences.
It wasn't all work and no play for the summit leaders Saturday night.
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In their closing communiqué, the world leaders are set to present a united front calling on China to ensure Hong Kong's civil liberties and guarantee free elections after the July 1 handover from Britain to Beijing.
"We look forward to democratic elections in Hong Kong for a new legislature as soon as possible," a draft of the communiqué circulating on the Internet said.
The communiqué also earmarks $300 million to help Ukraine build a shell around the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear reactor, criticizes Japan for its huge trade surplus, promises new trade and investment help for the poorest African nations and expresses a determination to revive the stalled Middle East peace process.
"Restoring the sense of security and confidence among Israelis and Palestinians is essential," the draft document said.
A Sunday morning meeting between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and French President Jacques Chirac was still scheduled even though an apparently exhausted Yeltsin skipped an evening summit program after dinner Saturday.
An aide said Yeltsin returned to the hotel where the Russian delegation was staying. Yeltsin had heart surgery last year and lost 60 pounds while recovering.
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