Rep Gerald Solomon, a Republican, asked the Pentagon yesterday about security clearances held by Dr Wah Lim, a former executive for Loral Space and Communications, who is now with Hughes Electronics Corp.

Lim, a missile guidance technology expert, headed a 1996 panel that examined what caused a Chinese rocket explosion that destroyed a Loral commercial satellite shortly after lift-off.

Congressional investigators believe Lim may be able to provide information on what technology may have been disclosed to China and who authorised the disclosure.

Loral said Lim's panel violated company policy in giving China a 200-page assessment of the explosion's causes before notifying US officials.

The Pentagon later said the disclosure harmed US national security by including information on rocket guidance that might be applicable tolong-range nuclear missiles.

``My client did not send any reports to the Chinese,'' said Lim's attorney, George B Newhouse. ``He is neither the subject nor the target of any investigation.'' Newhouse described his client as ``anxious to tell his story.'' The Justice Department is investigating whether Loral and Hughes, both of which were represented on the review panel, violated US export control laws by revealing sensitive information on rockets. When the accident occurred, Lim worked for Loral. He moved to Hughes later.

China trip

US President Bill Clinton has ruled out postponing his next month's visit to China, saying the trip was necessary in view of the success of ``our partnership'' on many fronts.

Speaking to newspersons at the White House on Wednesday, Clinton said it would be a ``mistake'' to postpone his trip to China ``because our partnership with Beijing has succeeded'' on many fronts.