[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 33 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

  2d Session
S. J. RES. 33

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
              Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.

Whereas according to the April 1, 2004, report by the Department of State 
        entitled U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act Report, ``The United States has 
        strong interests in the protection of human rights and the promotion of 
        democratic institutions throughout the world. The Hong Kong people share 
        many values and interests with Americans and have worked to make Hong 
        Kong a model of what can be achieved in a society based on the rule of 
        law and respect for civil liberties'';
Whereas according to section 103(3) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 
        1992 (22 U.S.C. 5713(3)), ``The United States should continue to treat 
        Hong Kong as a territory which is fully autonomous from the United 
        Kingdom and, after June 30, 1997, should treat Hong Kong as a territory 
        which is fully autonomous from the People's Republic of China with 
        respect to economic and trade matters'';
Whereas the People's Republic of China has frustrated the gradual and orderly 
        process toward universal suffrage and the democratic election of the 
        legislature and chief executive in Hong Kong as envisioned by the Basic 
        Law of the Hong Kong SAR; and
Whereas on April 6, 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's 
        Congress of the People's Republic of China declared itself, as opposed 
        to the people of Hong Kong, the final arbiter of democratic reform and, 
        on April 26, 2004, declared that universal suffrage would not apply to 
        the election of the third Chief Executive in 2007 or to the election of 
        all members of the fourth Legislative Council in 2008: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) declares that the people of Hong Kong should be free to 
        determine the pace and scope of constitutional developments; 
        and
            (2) calls upon the President of the United States to--
                    (A) call upon the People's Republic of China, the 
                National People's Congress, and any groups appointed by 
                the Government of the People's Republic of China to 
                guarantee that revisions of Hong Kong law reflect the 
                wishes of the people of Hong Kong as expressed through 
                universal suffrage and a democratically elected 
                legislature and chief executive;
                    (B) declare that the lack of movement towards 
                universal suffrage and a democratically elected 
                legislature in Hong Kong is contrary to the vision of 
                democracy set forth in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong 
                Special Administrative Region and in the Agreement 
                between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great 
                Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the 
                People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong 
                Kong, done at Beijing, December 19, 1984 (the Sino-
                British Joint Declaration of 1984); and
                    (C) call upon the Standing Committee of the 
                National People's Congress to guarantee that the Hong 
                Kong Government develop and implement a plan and 
                timetable to achieve universal suffrage and the 
                democratic election of the legislature and chief 
                executive of Hong Kong as provided for in the Basic Law 
                of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 
                promulgated on July 1, 1997.

            Passed the Senate June 22, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                             S. J. RES. 33

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

              Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.