[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8116-H8119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING HONG KONG'S BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 543) recognizing Hong Kong's bilateral
relationship with the United States, condemning the interference of the
People's Republic of China in Hong Kong's affairs, and supporting the
people of Hong Kong's right to protest, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 543
Whereas the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992
(Public Law 102-383) states--
(1) ``[s]upport for democratization is a fundamental
principle of United States foreign policy'';
(2) ``the human rights of the people of Hong Kong are of
great importance to the United States and are directly
relevant to United States interests in Hong Kong [and] serve
as a basis for Hong Kong's continued economic prosperity'';
and
(3) ``Hong Kong must remain sufficiently autonomous from
the People's Republic of China to justify a different
treatment than accorded to the People's Republic of China
under United States law'';
Whereas the United States maintains substantial economic
and political interests in Hong Kong, with more than 1,200
United States firms operating in the Special Administrative
Region, due largely to Hong Kong's strong business
environment, predicated on respect for the rule of law and an
independent judiciary;
Whereas the United States supports Hong Kong's ``high
degree of autonomy'' promised by the Joint Declaration
between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the
Question of the Hong Kong (``Joint Declaration'' ) in
accordance with the ``One Country, Two Systems'' framework
through bilateral agreements, the promotion of trade and
investment, and the bolstering of educational, academic, and
cultural links;
Whereas the Department of State reported in its 2019 Hong
Kong Policy Act Report, dated March 21, 2019, that the
People's Republic of China has carried out a number of
actions inconsistent with China's commitments in the Basic
Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (``Basic
Law'') and the Joint Declaration, which have diminished Hong
Kong's high degree of autonomy;
Whereas China has increasingly constrained Hong Kong's
freedoms in violation of the ``One Country, Two Systems''
framework by, among other actions, supporting the restriction
of entry into Hong Kong for individuals critical of the
Communist Party of China, instructing to the Hong Kong
Government to refuse a United States extradition request in
May 2018, and abusing the national security rationale to
justify interference with matters related to Hong Kong
politics and governance;
Whereas on April 3, 2019, the Government of Hong Kong
introduced the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance
in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019
(commonly known as the ``extradition bill'') that would amend
the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance by expanding the existing
extradition arrangement to include mainland China, allowing
for the handover of any persons in the territory of Hong
Kong, residents and non-residents, as well as any materials
in their possession;
Whereas the Department of State issued a statement on June
9, 2019, warning that the lack of procedural protections in
the bill could negatively impact Hong Kong's longstanding
protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and
democratic values;
Whereas on June 9, 2019, as many as 1,000,000 people
protested against the bill, and on June 12, 2019, tens of
thousands staged a protest near the Legislative Council
building to express opposition to the bill;
Whereas on June 12, 2019, the Government of Hong Kong took
advantage of the acts of a small group of protesters to
classify the largely peaceful protest as an unlawful assembly
and a ``riot'', a charge that can result in a prison sentence
of up to 10 years for those who were arrested;
Whereas the police's excessive use of force on June 12,
2019, as seen in video footage, to disperse the protestors,
including the use of tear gas, bean bag rounds, rubber
bullets, batons, and pepper spray, caused severe injuries to
protesters;
Whereas the excessive use of force fueled tensions and
contributed to the worsening of violence;
Whereas on June 16, 2019, as many as 2,000,000 people
peacefully gathered in the Admiralty district, which is
likely the largest protest in Hong Kong's history;
Whereas on July 21, 2019, a group alleged to be linked to
organized crime violently attacked protestors, innocent
bystanders, and journalists with sticks and metal bars in
Yuen Long, which resulted in the hospitalization of forty-
five people, with one person in critical condition;
Whereas the Hong Kong Police Force have been slow to take
meaningful action against those who attacked the protestors
on July 21, 2019, suggesting the police may be complicit in
their actions;
Whereas the protestors' demands included--
(1) the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill;
(2) the implementation of universal suffrage in the
election of the Chief Executive and all members the
Legislative Council;
(3) the establishment of an independent commission to
investigate police conduct during the protests;
(4) the declassification of the protests as a riots; and
(5) the dropping of all charges against persons who
participated in any protests;
Whereas on July 27, 2019, nine people were injured when
police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators in Yuen Long who
were protesting the July 21 violent attacks against
protestors and the lack of a police response to them;
Whereas on July 29, 2019, China's spokesman for the State
Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office issued a
statement referring to the protesters as ``radical elements
committing evil and criminal acts'';
Whereas on July 30, 2019, China's Foreign Ministry falsely
claimed that the pro-democracy protests are the ``work of the
United States'', alleging that American officials have
interfered in Hong Kong's internal affairs;
Whereas the Chinese Communist Party has called the protests
``absolutely intolerable'', ``terrorism'', and ``terror
atrocities'', raising fears that China may use the People's
Liberation Army or the People's Armed Police to violently
suppress the protestors;
Whereas on August 5, 2019, teachers, aviation workers,
finance employees, and civil servants went on strike across
seven districts, the largest citywide strike in decades,
which evolved into a wave of demonstrations
[[Page H8117]]
and resulted in the police firing approximately 800 tear gas
rounds to clear the protestors, almost as many as were used
in the previous 8 weeks combined;
Whereas on August 5, 2019, a mob violently attacked
demonstrators with sticks and metal bars in North Point after
the demonstrators were dispersed by police from the Admiralty
district, and again the police did not respond to the ambush;
Whereas on August 6, 2019, a Chinese Communist Party
official threatened the demonstrators by stating, ``those who
play with fire will perish by it'', and ``as for their [the
demonstrators'] punishment, it's only a matter of time'';
Whereas on August 7, 2019, Chinese state media began
publishing articles accusing the Political Counselor to the
United States Consulate General in Hong Kong of being ``a
black hand creating chaos in Hong Kong'', as well as publicly
identifying family members of the Consulate General staff;
Whereas on August 11, 2019, Hong Kong police beat fleeing
protesters with batons and fired pepper ball rounds at them
at close range;
Whereas on August 11, 2019, it was reported that a young
woman, allegedly a medic, who has since become a symbol for
the protest movement, sustained a serious eye injury from a
bean-bag round after the police fired a projectile into the
crowd;
Whereas on August 18, 2019, as many as 1,700,000 Hong Kong
people attended a peaceful rally against police brutality;
Whereas on August 31, 2019, Hong Kong Police Force Special
Tactical Squad officers beat with batons protesters and train
passengers at Prince Edward station; and
Whereas on September 4, 2019, Hong Kong Chief Executive
Carrie Lam announced the Government would withdraw the
extradition bill from the Legislative Council's agenda when
it reconvenes in October 2019: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on the Government of Hong Kong to begin
negotiations to address the demonstrators' remaining demands,
which include--
(A) the formal withdrawal of the bill from the Hong Kong
Legislative Council;
(B) the implementation of universal suffrage;
(C) the establishment of an independent investigation into
police conduct during the protests;
(D) the declassification of the protest as a riot; and
(E) the dropping of all charges against persons arrested
during the protests;
(2) condemns--
(A) the Hong Kong police's use of force against the
demonstrators in ways that are inconsistent with
international standards for the use of such equipment and in
violation of citizens' rights to freedom of expression and
peaceful assembly; and
(B) the Hong Kong Government for tolerating the use of
violent force against protesters by police;
(3) calls on the Administration to review the
appropriateness of sales by United States firms of munitions
and crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong, to ensure that they
are not used to repress peaceful protests;
(4) condemns efforts by the Hong Kong and Chinese
Governments to characterize the protests as ``riots'' and to
falsely accuse the United States of orchestrating political
instability that they alone created;
(5) shares the concerns of the people of Hong Kong that the
Hong Kong Government's proposed amendments to the Fugitive
Offenders Ordinance, if adopted, would negatively impact the
territory's long-standing protections of human rights,
fundamental freedoms, and democratic values as enshrined in
the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration;
(6) recognizes that the ``One Country, Two Systems''
framework and the Basic Law require that Hong Kong is
afforded a high degree of autonomy with respect to economic
and trade matters and the rule of law;
(7) condemns Chinese state media for targeting staff and
family members of the United States Consulate General in Hong
Kong;
(8) calls on the Government of Hong Kong and all
governments--
(A) to protect the rights of freedom of expression and
peaceful assembly;
(B) to condemn all acts of violence against those seeking
to further their democratic rights; and
(C) to refrain from the use of violence; and
(9) calls on the Government of Hong Kong and the Government
of China to abide by the provisions of the Joint Declaration
and the Basic Law.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Sherman) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on H. Res. 543.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The world is watching Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is watching the floor
of the House of Representatives. People by the tens of thousands in
Hong Kong have demonstrated in favor of bills we are considering here
today. In doing so, they have taken great risk to themselves and showed
tremendous courage. The least we could do is pass these bills.
I rise today to speak in favor of these bills on Hong Kong. I am
proud to cosponsor all of the legislation under consideration dealing
with Hong Kong.
I want to first focus on a resolution I introduced with our
colleagues, Mrs. Wagner; Mr. Connolly; and Mr. Yoho, the ranking member
of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, my
partner on the Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee.
This resolution demonstrates that the so-called extradition bill is
an infringement on the rights of the people of Hong Kong, including
their right to a high degree of autonomy, autonomy that was granted to
Hong Kong when that city was returned to the control of Beijing.
This resolution also establishes that the House of Representatives
stands with Hong Kong protestors and supports their five major demands.
These demands are:
Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill;
Universal suffrage in the election of the chief executive and all
members of the Legislative Council;
The establishment of an independent commission to investigate the
police's excessive use of force against the protestors;
The changing of the classification so these protests are not
classified as riots and the participants are not classified as rioters;
and, finally,
Having all charges against the people who participate in these
protests dropped.
Many of us in Congress and around the United States have been
inspired by the people of Hong Kong standing up for their fundamental
rights over the last few months. One of the protests brought nearly 25
percent of the entire population of Hong Kong into the streets. That is
simply unprecedented.
It would behoove Beijing to heed the protestors' demands. Sadly,
instead of recognizing their own role in causing these protests, the
Chinese Communist Party has tried to characterize the demonstrations as
the handiwork of the United States. We categorically reject this
assertion.
These protests were motivated, first and foremost, in reaction to the
effort by the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist
Party to interfere in the autonomy that was promised to the people of
Hong Kong. These protests were motivated by the policies of Beijing and
the Hong Kong government that have increasingly reduced the city's high
degree of autonomy.
The state-run media has even gone so far as to accuse a particular
State Department official by name of orchestrating the protests. That
is an insult to the people of Hong Kong, who speak for themselves and
act for themselves. Moreover, it has put that diplomat and her family
in danger. This is simply unacceptable behavior, and the Stand with
Hong Kong Resolution criticizes this egregious action by the Chinese
Government.
Finally, let me reiterate my support for the other complementary
bills that we are considering today on Hong Kong.
The first is the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019,
which was introduced by our colleague Mr. Smith, who will be managing
time on the other side. This legislation will amend the Hong Kong
Policy Act of 1992 to account for the changes that have taken place
over the last 25 years.
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act also conveys to Beijing
that it cannot undermine the city's freedom while expecting America to
still give that city preferential trade arrangements.
I am also a strong supporter of Congressman Jim McGovern's PROTECT
Hong Kong Act, which would restrict U.S. firms' ability to sell the
Hong Kong police weapons to use against protestors.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H8118]]
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).
Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Smith and Mr.
Sherman, whom I have the pleasure of serving with on the Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, for
raising this important topic.
I rise today to bring attention to three very important and timely
measures that the House will consider this afternoon. These bipartisan
measures passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously,
and they include H. Res. 543, by Representative Sherman; H.R. 3289, by
Representative Smith; and H.R. 4270, by Representative McGovern. I am
proud to say that I am a cosponsor of all three.
Over the past 5 months, mass civilian protests in Hong Kong have
begun to shed light on the deterioration of the Chinese Communist
Party's influence outside of mainland China. Rising resentment in Hong
Kong is not simply a result of the ill-fated extradition law championed
by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, but the continued encroachment on
freedom and liberties by President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist
Party.
Despite the 1997 Sino-British agreement, leaders in Beijing continued
their high-intensity political pressure campaign to subdue dissent
within Hong Kong, which has emboldened the people of Hong Kong to stand
up against Beijing, but more for freedom. This is illustrated by the
people of Hong Kong raising and waving the American flag while burning
the Chinese flag.
The protestors now maintain five demands that Mr. Sherman already
talked about: withdrawal of the extradition bill; drop charges against
the protestors; launch an investigation into the police forces; and
universal suffrage, which would allow voters to directly pick their
leaders instead of hand-picked leaders of their chief executive by
Beijing.
As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and
Nonproliferation, I have been extremely outspoken against the continued
deterioration of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. The passage of these
important pieces of legislation will send a strong message to President
Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party that these abuses will not
be tolerated by the international community.
Keep in mind that China and Great Britain signed this international
agreement in 1997, where it stated that Hong Kong would be an
autonomous region, self-ruled, and have an independent judiciary
system. Only 22 years into it, Xi Jinping has said, as far as he is
concerned, that agreement is null and void, and so you see the people
of Hong Kong standing up in protest. Because they have experienced
freedom and liberty, they are willing to risk their life.
I just had a group of Hong Kong students come in. These are the
people who are right in the forefront of the protests in Hong Kong, and
they came to our office begging for help from the American people, from
the American Government.
Now, granted, Hong Kong, we all know, is a province of China. But we
also know there was an agreement, for 50 years, it was to be
autonomously ruled with an independent judiciary committee that Xi
Jinping and the Communist Party of China have canceled, and I think
this is a message for all people of the intent of what China is doing.
We, as Members of Congress, have so much more that we represent. It
is not a political body where we fight back and forth and discuss
different things. What we represent here in America is what people
around the world are willing to risk their life for and to stand up, in
front of the face of adversity, to one of the emerging superpowers of
the world and say: We do not accept your communist authority rule. We
want you to honor liberty and freedom.
See, the people of Hong Kong, they have experienced freedom and
liberties. Xi Jinping and the Communist Party can't understand that
because they have never experienced freedom or liberty. As supposedly
the greatest deliberative body on the planet, this transcends way
beyond what we do here.
This is standing up for ideals that people around the world are
willing to die for, and it is this body that can send a strong message
to the Chinese Communist Party, to Xi Jinping that says we will not let
liberties and freedom be taken away from people who have claimed that,
who have known that all their life, and that that should be honored by
those who are trying to take it apart.
Before they want to take it apart, I suggest Xi Jinping and the
Communist Party try freedom and liberty: Try democracy for a while; you
might like it.
I think these are three very important bills that should pass through
this House unanimously and should pass through the Senate to show that
we stand in solidarity with the folks, our friends in Hong Kong; and,
if not, if we don't send a strong message, it will embolden China.
I hope manufacturers and all businesses around the world that do
business in Hong Kong are paying attention to this, because they are
the ones that are creating a business environment that feeds China so
that they can continue these terrible acts of suppression of liberties
and freedoms. I hope the business community will say: You know what, we
stand with the American people.
It pains me when I see people like the NBA or other organizations,
corporations that will bow down to China, and they do it for profit. It
is time that we stand up not just as Americans, but people who are the
bearers of liberty and freedom around the world that the rest of the
world looks to.
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey
very much for allowing me to speak on the subject of Hong Kong today.
I rise in support of all these bills before us today, particularly
the bill from my friend from New Jersey, the Hong Kong Human Rights and
Democracy Act, and I stand in solidarity with all freedom-loving people
in Hong Kong.
For more than 4 months, we have witnessed Hong Kong citizens
peacefully protest for the right to live in a free and fair political
system.
Over my years, I have traveled to Hong Kong and witnessed their
innovative spirit and work ethic. In fact, Hong Kong was the model for
the post-World War II growth of the Asian Tigers in their prosperity
and innovation.
{time} 1545
In the 1980s, when a proponent of welfare statism queried pro-growth
economist Melvyn B. Krauss:
``But how many Hong Kongs can the world have?''
Dr. Krauss replied, ``As many as the world will allow itself.''
Freedom lovers should rally to that wisdom.
This summer, I had the opportunity to hear directly from leaders in
Hong Kong dedicated to religious tolerance and democracy as promised in
the one country, two systems agreement.
The people of Hong Kong continue to wave American flags during their
protests as a symbol for the freedoms that they desire.
Rather than receiving support from all over our great land here in
this country, they have had to witness the blatant hypocrisy that we
have seen from U.S. companies, including the National Basketball
Association, more worried about the bottom line and retribution from
the PRC, rather than standing up for the basic human rights that we are
so blessed with in this country and that we advocate for as a part of
our foreign policy all over this globe.
The free world is looking to us for leadership, and that is why I
thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), Mr. McGovern, and Mr.
Sherman for supporting these legislative efforts on a bipartisan basis,
but more importantly, supporting the people in Hong Kong that they have
the right to freedom of expression and democratic governance guaranteed
under that 50-year arrangement agreed to in 1997 by both--by both, Mr.
Speaker--the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support these measures
today, and I thank their sponsors.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
[[Page H8119]]
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume, and I will close.
Mr. Speaker, several years ago, I joined the then chairman of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, in visiting Hong Kong. We had a
chance to spend a lot of time with both young and more experienced
leaders fighting for democracy and autonomy for Hong Kong. And this
has, in fact, been the policy of the United States since the 1992 Hong
Kong Policy Act, which establishes our support for democratization as a
fundamental principle of U.S. foreign policy.
In recent days, we have seen demonstrators in Hong Kong asking the
U.S. Congress to pass the three pieces of legislation that are before
us. The protestors want to know if our support for democracy is merely
rhetorical or if we are willing to take action to defend our
principles.
By passing these three bills today, we will affirm that the U.S.
Congress supports democracy, human rights, and appropriate autonomy for
Hong Kong.
Mr. Speaker, as to all three bills, I want to thank Speaker Pelosi
and Chairman Engel and many other colleagues for their leadership on
this issue.
Mr. Speaker, turning to the specifics of H. Res. 543, the specific
matter before us at this moment, I want to thank my Foreign Affairs
Committee colleagues for helping to introduce this measure, including
Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Connolly, and Mr. Yoho, who spoke just a few minutes
ago.
H. Res. 543 recognizes our country's strong relationship with the
people of Hong Kong. It is an important measure of solidarity at a time
when protesters are facing police brutality and China is trying to take
away the autonomy that it promised.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res.
543, a resolution ``Recognizing Hong Kong's bilateral relationship with
the United States, condemning the interference of the People's Republic
of China in Hong Kong's affairs, and supporting the people of Hong
Kong's right to protest.''
As a senior member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, I support
H. Res. 543 because it calls on the Hong Kong government to address the
protesters' five demands, condemns police brutality against peaceful
protesters, and condemns efforts to falsely accuse U.S. diplomats of
fueling unrest.
On June 30, 1997, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong
Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial rule.
Hong Kong is a customs territory and economic entity separate from
the rest of China and is able to enter into international agreements on
its own behalf in commercial, economic, and certain legal matters.
U.S. policy toward Hong Kong is stated in the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy
Act of 1992 and grounded in the determination to promote Hong Kong's
prosperity, autonomy, and way of life.
The United States maintains substantial economic and political
interests in Hong Kong.
The U.S. supports Hong Kong's autonomy under the ``One Country, Two
Systems'' framework by concluding and implementing bilateral
agreements; promoting trade and investment; broadening law enforcement
cooperation; bolstering educational, academic, and cultural links;
supporting high-level visits of U.S. officials; and serving the large
community of U.S. citizens and visitors.
After 22 years, protests erupted over Carrie Lam's proposal to amend
extradition laws to allow suspects to be transferred to mainland China
for trial.
A few days after proposing the amendment to the extradition laws,
Carrie Lam suspended the proposal, but the protests in Hong Kong
continue as the people of Hong Kong demand the high degree of autonomy
promised by the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984.
It is critical for the United States Congress to stand with the women
and men advocating and speaking up for the autonomy and dignity of
people of Hong Kong.
I applaud the efforts and sacrifices pro-democracy activists have
made and they should know that the United States fully supports their
desire for freedom and peace, and strongly condemns the violent and
oppressive tactics of the Hong Kong police.
As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I
support the bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and the United
States and the promotion of international peace.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res.
543 to condemn the brutality faced by the people of Hong Kong and which
poses a strong threat to the democratic values we work to protect.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 543, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``A resolution
recognizing Hong Kong's bilateral relationship with the United States,
condemning the People's Republic of China for violating their
obligations to the people of Hong Kong, and supporting the people of
Hong Kong's right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________