Responding to the promulgation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, under Article 23 of the Basic Law, by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on March 19, 2024.
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Committee
Latest Action · June 3, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
This House resolution expresses congressional opposition to Hong Kong's Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, passed on March 19, 2024, which the resolution argues severely restricts freedoms of speech, assembly, and press in violation of Hong Kong's Basic Law and previous agreements. The resolution condemns what it describes as a pattern of erosion of democratic institutions in Hong Kong by the Chinese government since 2004, including the 2020 National Security Law and changes to Hong Kong's electoral system that have eliminated democratic representation. The resolution calls on the President to impose targeted sanctions against Hong Kong officials involved in enforcing these laws and to provide diplomatic support to Hong Kong residents facing political persecution, while also urging Hong Kong authorities to revise the legislation to meet international human rights standards and release political prisoners. Additionally, it encourages the international community to similarly condemn and sanction Hong Kong's actions. This is a non-binding congressional statement with no direct funding or implementation timeline, but it signals support for using existing authorities under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act to take action.
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