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







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 33

              Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 21, 2004

 Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Talent, and Mr. Allen) introduced the 
 following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
              Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.

Whereas according to the April 1, 2004, ``U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act Report'' by 
        the Department of State, ``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 Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and 
        the People's Republic of China have 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 the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's 
        Republic of China on April 6, 2004, declared itself, as opposed to the 
        people of Hong Kong, the final arbiter of democratic reform: 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 all revisions of Hong Kong law are made 
                according to the wishes of the people of Hong Kong as 
                expressed through a fully democratically elected 
                legislature and chief executive;
                    (B) declare that the continued lack of a fully 
                democratically elected legislature in Hong Kong 
                constitutes a violation of 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 
                Bejing December 19, 1984 (the Sino-British Joint 
                Declaration of 1984); and
                    (C) call upon the Government of the People's 
                Republic of China to honor its treaty obligations under 
                the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984.
                                 <all>