STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 67

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 67 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION AS AN OBSERVER IN THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION; ENCOURAGING A U.S.-TAIWAN BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT; AND CELEBRATING THE STATE OF HAWAII'S TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF SISTER-STATE RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to endorse the participation of Taiwan as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Civil Aviation Organization, World Health Organization, and International Criminal Police Organization. This measure also celebrates Hawaii's twenty-fifth anniversary of sister-state relations with Taiwan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that Taiwan is a committed provider of humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world, an active contributor to climate change research, a hub of expertise in disease control and prevention, and a strong partner in the enforcement of transnational criminal law. Taiwan has a strong cultural, historical, and economic relationship with Hawaii, and is the tenth largest trading partner of the United States. Your Committee finds that Taiwan would be a valuable participant in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Civil Aviation Organization, World Health Organization, and International Criminal Police Organization. In addition, your Committee finds that the State should celebrate its twenty-five years of sister-state relations with Taiwan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 67 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair