[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 112 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H5359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HONG KONG'S TRANSFER TO CHINA
(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, in 1984, before the United Kingdom handed
Hong Kong over to China, the Chinese Government promised ``a high
degree of autonomy'' for the territory in the Joint Declaration on the
Question of Hong Kong: providing for an independent executive,
legislature, and judiciary; ensuring the freedom of speech, press,
assembly, and religion; prohibiting the central government from
interfering into the affairs that Hong Kong administers on its own
according to the Basic Law; and pledging a path to universal suffrage.
In 1997, when the handover occurred, America was hopeful that the
people of Hong Kong would achieve the free, democratic future they
deserved. But 2 decades later, we see China's promise of ``one country,
two systems'' is not being met. The Chinese have not honored that
promise, and the British Government has ignored it.
Since 2014's ``Umbrella Revolution,'' the people of Hong Kong have
faced a barrage of unjust and harsh restrictions on their freedoms.
Hong Kong's pro-Beijing government is slapping democratically elected
opposition lawmakers with expensive lawsuits in a backhanded attempt to
disqualify them from their seats.
Peaceful activists are being rounded up and detained by the hundreds
for exercising their right to protest the new government.
Five booksellers were abducted, smuggled across the border to China
and forced to confess--so-called confess--their so-called crimes on
national television, simply because their employer sold books critical
of Beijing.
And, just this week, the democracy activists and heroes of the
``Umbrella Movement,'' Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, were arrested while
peacefully protesting the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, where
they unfurled a banner in support of Liu Xiaobo.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend this body, especially our colleague,
Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, for the resolution that he put
forth earlier, a resolution that recognized Liu Xiaobo's contribution
to democratic freedoms as a global hero, and urging the Chinese
Government to allow him to seek medical care wherever, including in the
United States.
In mainland China, Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Government continues to
jail journalists, human rights lawyers, those fighting to practice
their own religion, and democracy activists at an alarming rate. And
the Chinese Government is brutally trying to erase the religion,
culture, and language of the Tibetan people.
America has a moral duty to speak out in defense of the legitimate
political aspirations of the people of Hong Kong. If we do not speak
out for human rights in China because of economic concerns, then we
lose all moral authority to talk about human rights in any other place
in the world.
As we mark this solemn 20th anniversary, we must stand up for all who
are demanding the promises of ``one country, two systems'' be honored.
INTRO--JOINT DECLARATION
In 1984, before the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong to China,
the Chinese government promised `a high degree of autonomy' for the
territory in the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong:
--providing for an independent executive, legislature and judiciary;
--ensuring the freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion;
--prohibiting the central government from interfering in the affairs
that Hong Kong administers on its own according to the Basic Law;
--and pledging a path to universal suffrage.
In 1997, when the handover occurred, America was hopeful that the
people of Hong Kong would achieve the free, democratic future they
deserved.
But two decades later, we see China's promise of `one country, two
systems' is not being met. The Chinese have not honored that promise,
and the British have ignored it.
RECENT CRACKDOWN
Since 2014's `Umbrella Revolution,' the people of Hong Kong have
faced a barrage of unjust and harsh restrictions on their freedoms.
Hong Kong's pro-Beijing government is slapping democratically-elected
opposition lawmakers with expensive lawsuits in a backhanded attempt to
disqualify them from their seats.
Peaceful activists are being rounded up and detained by the hundreds
for exercising their right to protest the new government.
Five booksellers were abducted, smuggled across the border to China
and forced to confess their so-called crimes on national television--
simply because their employer sold books critical of Beijing.
WONG ARREST
And, just this week, the democracy activists and heroes of the
`Umbrella Movement', Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, were arrested while
peacefully protesting the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping--where
they unfurled a banner in support of Liu Xiaobo.
This egregious attempt at smothering free speech is alarming, illegal
and deserves the swift condemnation of the international community.
We must honor the protestors' chant--`the world is watching'--and
condemn the arrest of Wong and the other demonstrators.
Unfortunately, Beijing shows absolutely zero signs of ceasing its
aggressive campaign of intimidation against democracy and human rights
activists.
Close
In Mainland China, the Chinese government continues to jail
journalists, human rights lawyers, those fighting to practice their own
religion and democracy activists at an alarming rate.
And the Chinese Government is brutally trying to erase the religion,
culture and language of the Tibetan people.
America has a moral duty to speak out in defense of the legitimate
political aspirations of the people of Hong Kong.
If we do not speak out for human rights in China because of economic
concerns, then we lose all moral authority to talk about human rights
in any other place in the world.
As we mark this solemn anniversary, we must stand up for all those
who are demanding the promises of `one country, two systems' be
honored.
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