[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1927-H1930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONDEMNING CONTINUED VIOLATION OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF PEOPLE OF HONG 
KONG BY PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG SPECIAL 
                         ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 130) condemning the continued violation of rights 
and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of 
China and the Government of the Hong Kong special administrative 
region.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 130

       Whereas despite international condemnation, the Government 
     of the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') continues to 
     disregard its international legal obligations under the Joint 
     Declaration of 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 
     (``Joint Declaration''), in which the PRC committed that--
       (1) Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy;
       (2) for at least 50 years the ``social and economic systems 
     in Hong Kong'' would remain unchanged; and
       (3) the personal rights and freedoms of the people of Hong 
     Kong would be protected by law;

       Whereas, as part of its continued efforts to undermine the 
     established rights of the Hong Kong people, the PRC National 
     People's Congress Standing Committee (``Standing Committee'') 
     passed and imposed upon Hong Kong oppressive and 
     intentionally vague national security legislation on June 30, 
     2020, that grants Beijing sweeping powers to punish acts of 
     ``separating the country, subverting state power, and 
     organizing terroristic activities'';
       Whereas the legislative process by which the Standing 
     Committee imposed the national security law on Hong Kong 
     bypassed Hong Kong's local government in a potential 
     violation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special 
     Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China 
     (``Basic Law''), and involved unusual secrecy, as 
     demonstrated by the fact that the legislation was only the 
     second law since 2008 that the Standing Committee has passed 
     without releasing a draft for public comment;
       Whereas, on July 30, 2020, election officials of the Hong 
     Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) disqualified 
     twelve pro-democracy candidates from participating in the 
     September 6 Legislative Council elections, which were 
     subsequently postponed for a year until September 5, 2021, by 
     citing the public health risk of holding elections during the 
     COVID-19 pandemic;
       Whereas, on July 31, 2020, in an attempt to assert 
     extraterritorial jurisdiction, the HKSAR Government announced 
     indictments of and arrest warrants for six Hong Kong 
     activists living overseas, including United States citizen 
     Samuel Chu, for alleged violations of the national security 
     law;
       Whereas, on November 11, 2020, the HKSAR Government removed 
     four lawmakers from office for allegedly violating the law 
     after the Standing Committee passed additional legislation 
     barring those who promoted or supported Hong Kong 
     independence and refused to acknowledge PRC sovereignty over 
     Hong Kong, or otherwise violates the national security law, 
     from running for or serving in the Legislative Council;
       Whereas, on December 2, 2020, pro-democracy activists 
     Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam were sentenced to 
     prison for participating in 2019 protests;
       Whereas ten of the twelve Hong Kong residents (also known 
     as ``the Hong Kong 12'') who sought to flee by boat from Hong 
     Kong to Taiwan on August 23, 2020, were taken to mainland 
     China and sentenced on December 30, 2020, to prison terms 
     ranging from seven months to three years for illegal border 
     crossing;
       Whereas, on December 31, 2020, Hong Kong's highest court 
     revoked bail for Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying, a pro-democracy figure 
     and publisher, who was charged on December 12 with colluding 
     with foreign forces and endangering national security under 
     the national security legislation;
       Whereas, on January 4, 2021, the Departments of Justice in 
     Henan and Sichuan province threatened to revoke the licenses 
     of two lawyers hired to help the Hong Kong 12; and
       Whereas, on January 5, 2021, the Hong Kong Police Force 
     arrested more than fifty opposition figures, including pro-
     democracy officials, activists, and an American lawyer, for 
     their involvement in an informal July 2020 primary to select 
     candidates for the general election originally scheduled for 
     September 2020, despite other political parties having held 
     similar primaries without retribution: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the actions taken by the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and the Government of 
     the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (``HKSAR''), 
     including the adoption and implementation of national 
     security legislation for Hong Kong through irregular 
     procedures, that violate the rights and freedoms of the 
     people of Hong Kong that are guaranteed by the Joint 
     Declaration and its implementing document, the Basic Law;
       (2) reaffirms its support for the people of Hong Kong, who 
     face grave threats to their rights and freedoms;
       (3) calls on the governments of the PRC and HKSAR to--
       (A) respect and uphold--
       (i) commitments made to the international community and the 
     people of Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration; and
       (ii) the judicial independence of the Hong Kong legal 
     system; and
       (B) release pro-democracy activists and politicians 
     arrested under the national security law; and
       (4) encourages the President, the Secretary of State, and 
     the Secretary of the Treasury to coordinate with allies and 
     partners and continue United States efforts to respond to 
     developments in Hong Kong, including by--
       (A) providing protection for Hong Kong residents who fear 
     persecution;
       (B) supporting those who may seek to file a case before the 
     International Court of Justice to hold the Government of the 
     PRC accountable for violating its binding legal commitments 
     under the Joint Declaration;
       (C) encouraging allies and partner countries to instruct, 
     as appropriate, their respective representatives to the 
     United Nations to use their voice, vote, and influence to 
     press for the appointment of a United Nations special mandate 
     holder to monitor and report on human rights developments in 
     Hong Kong;
       (D) ensuring the private sector, particularly United States 
     companies with economic interests in Hong Kong, is aware of 
     risks the national security legislation poses to the security 
     of United States citizens and to the medium and long-term 
     interest of United States businesses in Hong Kong;
       (E) continuing to implement sanctions authorities, 
     especially authorities recently enacted to address actions 
     undermining the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people 
     such as the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (Public Law 116-149) and 
     the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (Public 
     Law 116-76), with respect to officials of the Chinese 
     Communist Party, the Government of the PRC, or the Government 
     of the HKSAR who are responsible for undermining such rights 
     and freedoms; and
       (F) coordinating with allies and partners to ensure that 
     such implementation of sanctions is multilateral.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 130.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 130, Condemning 
Continued Violation of Rights and Freedoms of the People of Hong Kong 
by People's Republic of China and Government of Hong Kong Special 
Administrative Region.
  I have introduced this resolution to demonstrate this body's already 
strong, bipartisan support for the people of Hong Kong.
  The situation in Hong Kong has been alarming for several years now. 
We have witnessed the degradation of civil liberties and human rights 
as the PRC continues to disregard its international legal obligations 
under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
  For months, in 2019, the people of Hong Kong peacefully took to the 
streets in historic numbers to preserve their democracy and demand 
their rights and freedoms. Unfortunately,

[[Page H1928]]

these peaceful protesters were met with excessive force by the police 
and the further imposition of restrictions on expression and assembly. 
Thousands have been beaten, injured, and illegally detained in 
violation of due process.
  Rather than listen to the demands of the majority of Hong Kongers, 
the Chinese Government blatantly bypassed Hong Kong's local government 
and imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong and its 
people with very little accountability or transparency. The vague, 
overly broad measures this security law put in place are little more 
than a thinly veiled attempt to erode Hong Kong's autonomy and restrict 
the space for peaceful expression. It steals from the people of Hong 
Kong the ability to exercise the freedoms of speech and association and 
creates an environment of fear around the expression of any political 
sentiment.
  It is no surprise that since the passage of this law, political 
censorship has spiked significantly and Hong Kong officials have become 
increasingly brazen in undermining democratic norms, such as 
disqualifying pro-democracy candidates from participating in the 
legislative council elections and removing democratically elected 
lawmakers from office.
  Hong Kong authorities have also used the national security law to 
target and silence pro-democracy activists at home and abroad. They 
have even issued arrest warrants for activists living overseas, 
including a U.S. citizen, for alleged violations of national security 
law.
  Hundreds of pro-democracy figures and activists have been arrested or 
sentenced to prison, including Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, Ivan Lam, the 
``Hong Kong 12,'' and Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying, while others await a further 
crackdown. But the resolve of the people of Hong Kong has not wavered, 
and neither will the resolve of the people of the United States, our 
allies, and this body.
  Mr. Speaker, see, democracy is the cornerstone of the work we do in 
the people's House. We must support the people of Hong Kong as they 
fight for the rights and freedoms promised to them under the Basic Law. 
With the passage of this resolution, the House reaffirms its continued 
support for the people of Hong Kong.
  We stand by activists who continue to come forward in their cause for 
democracy and human rights at great risk to themselves, their families, 
and their future. But by passing this resolution, the House sends a 
strong, bipartisan message demanding that the Chinese and Hong Kong 
Governments respect the will of the people of Hong Kong.
  We will continue to push for democracy and respect for human rights 
in Hong Kong. We will continue to demonstrate that we stand in 
solidarity with the pro-democracy figures and activists who have made 
tremendous sacrifices for their city and for their core human rights.
  This is an important resolution, and I support it and I urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Pelosi), the very distinguished Speaker of the House of 
Representatives.

                              {time}  1730

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for 
his very moving and profound statement on democracy and democratic 
freedoms in Hong Kong. I thank the chairman for his leadership for 
bringing this important legislation to the floor. I thank the ranking 
member, Mr. McCaul, for his leadership, as well, on an ongoing basis on 
this important issue and for his courtesy for yielding back.
  It is always an honor to be with Chris Smith, we have been working on 
these issues together for 30 years--a very long time--to demonstrate 
the bipartisan nature of the support that we have for democratic 
freedoms in Hong Kong, in the House, and in the Senate, bicameral and 
bipartisan.
  Mr. Speaker, Friday was a sad day and a disturbing day for the people 
of Hong Kong and for all freedom-loving people as sentences were handed 
down to Martin Lee, a global champion of human rights, and to other 
pro-democracy leaders for engaging in peaceful protests.
  This afternoon, 3 days after that distressing development, I had the 
privilege to speak with activists from the Hong Kong Democracy Council. 
It was an inspiration to hear how they and the people of Hong Kong are 
responding to China's crackdown with great courage; how the dream of 
real autonomy cannot be extinguished by injustice or intimidation.
  In our conversation earlier today--and in all my communications with 
Hong Kongers--they asked that the United States Congress continue to 
speak out to support their aspirations for the freedoms that they were 
promised. We were there when they promised them.
  Today, with this resolution, Congress is honoring that call. I thank 
Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, again, Representatives Bera and 
Malinowski, and the distinguished chair of the China Executive 
Commission, Mr. McGovern, for their work on this important legislation.
  H. Res. 130 condemns the continued violation of rights and freedoms 
of the people of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China and the 
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
  It states that Communist China continues to ``disregard its 
international legal obligations under the joint declaration'' which 
mandates, among other pledges, that ``Hong Kong would enjoy a high 
degree of autonomy'' and ``the personal rights and freedoms of the 
people of Hong Kong would be protected by law.''
  This resolution today makes clear that China has trampled on its 
promises, including its draconian so-called national security law used 
to target and round up peaceful protesters under the guise of 
terrorism; disqualification of pro-democracy candidates from 
participating in the September 6 legislative council elections; the 
indictments and arrests for six Hong Kong activists living overseas--as 
the distinguished chairman pointed out, including here in the United 
States--and the arrests and sentencing of dozens of pro-democracy 
activists, including, as was mentioned, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and 
Ivan Lam--and opposition leaders, the Hong Kong 12, of this past 
December and January. Again, I mention Martin Lee.
  The United States Congress has always supported Hong Kong on a 
bipartisan and bicameral basis, and we remain laser-focused on efforts 
to support Hong Kong's efforts to maintain and grow the rule of law and 
freedom of speech in their home, and we are determined to hold China 
accountable.
  Our response must include further strengthening our work with 
international coalitions--this has to be multilateral--passing 
legislation in addition to this resolution, to support Hong Kong, 
building on the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act 
in 2019.
  Our legislative response must also address the plight of the Uighurs 
and Tibetans and the violation of their rights in China; and we must 
continue to use our platform to speak out about Beijing's crackdown on 
the global stage and ensure that the voices that the Chinese Government 
are trying to silence are heard.
  In response, our focus must be on human rights. As I always say, if 
we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial 
interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out on human 
rights anywhere in the world.
  That is what I have been stating and fighting for--as we have 
together--since 1991 when I went to Tiananmen Square and unfurled a 
black-and-white banner reading: To those who died for democracy.
  Ever since, many of us have fought to ensure that human rights and 
trade are firmly linked, from sponsoring the U.S.-China Act in 1993 and 
in 1994 urging Congress to deny China most-favored nation status to 
goods made by the PLA in the prisons.
  Mr. Smith and Mr. Frank Wolf went there and saw the evidence of 
prison labor goods being sent to the U.S. and corporate America just 
ignoring the whole thing.
  Then in 2000 we fought efforts to give China a blank check when it 
failed to comply with its market commitment under the WTO, and they 
still continue to do that.

[[Page H1929]]

  We cannot allow economic interests to blind us to moral injustices 
committed by China.
  On Friday in a speech to court, the storied Hong Kong attorney, 
Margaret Ng, quoted Sir Thomas More, the patron saint of the legal 
profession, who was tried for treason because he would not bend the law 
to the king's will. Margaret Ng ended her statement by paraphrasing his 
final, famous words:

       I stand the law's good servant, but the people's first. For 
     the law must serve the people, not the people the law.

  With that, I support an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote for this 
resolution and for the Congress' continued bipartisan and bicameral 
work to support the people of Hong Kong in the face of Beijing's 
exploitation of and assault on the law. It is a very important piece of 
legislation, and I am so glad it is going to have bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I thank the chair and the 
ranking member of the committee for their leadership.

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First of all, let me thank the Speaker for coming down on the floor 
to give her personal remarks. I know she has a busy schedule, but this 
really honors and shows her commitment to human rights in Hong Kong and 
all around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join the chairman in leading this measure 
to condemn the egregious violations of Hong Kong's freedoms. The 
Chinese Communist Party's relentless oppression of the people of Hong 
Kong is not a Republican or Democratic issue. We are united as 
Americans in standing with Hong Kongers.
  Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has inspired people around the 
world to fight for liberty over tyranny. But in June of last year, the 
Chinese Communist Party used its sham legislature to enforce a 
dystopian national security law on Hong Kong. This law criminalizes 
basic civil liberties, it violated China's treaty commitments, it 
destroyed the ``one country, two systems'' model of autonomy, and it 
inserted the CCP's police state into Hong Kong to crush dissent.
  Since it passed, the CCP has purged pro-democracy lawmakers from the 
government while arresting the CCP's political enemies.
  Unfortunately, the CCP's human rights abuses in Hong Kong are far 
from over. Chairman Meeks' resolution continues our bipartisan work to 
call out the CCP's abuses and to stand with the people of Hong Kong, 
and I urge my colleagues' support for this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith), who is the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee 
on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International 
Organizations and has been a champion for human rights more than most 
people have been in this Congress maybe combined.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the 
ranking member, for his kind remarks. I thank him for his leadership on 
this resolution, as well. I thank Chairman Meeks for his leadership on 
this. It is a bipartisan resolution, and it is very much needed right 
now. H. Res. 130 condemns the ongoing violation of human rights and the 
rule of law in Hong Kong perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party 
under Xi Jinping and the Government of Hong Kong itself.
  As the author of the House-passed, bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights 
Act signed into law last Congress, which I first introduced in 2014 and 
again in 2015, 2017, and then for a final time in 2019, I want to just 
thank Speaker Pelosi for putting that legislation before this body and 
for her strong support.
  The Speaker mentioned a moment ago how we have worked for well over 
30 years on combating human rights abuses in China whether it be Tibet, 
the ongoing repression and now genocide against the Uighurs, and the 
crackdown on religious freedom which has now become nothing but 
pervasive persecution against people of all faiths as well as the Falun 
Gong. We have worked very, very closely together, and I believe going 
back to right after Tiananmen Square, that linkage of human rights with 
trade was the only way to effectuate systemic change. Regrettably, we 
have lost so far that linkage. But, again, now we are seeing 
manifestations, particularly in Hong Kong.
  Could Taiwan be next? Consider all of the promises that were made--
and there were solemn promises made by the dictatorship in Beijing--to 
respect human rights in Hong Kong. The basic law is now being violated 
with impunity.
  Of course, there is the Sino-U.K. agreement that is being violated. 
This is an international treaty, and there is the Chinese dictatorship 
one by one arresting the best, the bravest, and the brightest of Hong 
Kong and putting them into prison for long prison sentences.
  As the Speaker noted a moment ago, we just saw that Joshua Wong got 
an additional jail sentence on his already 13\1/2\-month jail sentence. 
We know that he is a great young man, and he represents the future of 
Hong Kong. He now is languishing in prison.
  I met Martin Lee in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and he suggested to 
me that someday he may find himself in prison. He said that it is worth 
it for human rights and for democracy. He is an absolutely brave and an 
absolutely principled lawyer, a former member of the Hong Kong 
Legislative Council. He too has been convicted under this crackdown on 
democracy promotion in Hong Kong.
  So there are also many, many others. Jimmy Lai was one of five who 
were just sentenced last Friday. So this is happening in real time 
every single day. Once you are arrested and put into prison, the bully 
boys of the Hong Kong police make sure that you suffer, and you suffer 
intensely.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, again, Chairman Meeks for bringing 
this forward and, of course, my good friend, Mr. McCaul.
  Mr. MEEKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Meijer), who is a member of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs.
  Mr. MEIJER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 130, a 
resolution condemning the violations of the basic rights and freedoms 
of the people of Hong Kong. As part of the 1984 Sino-British Joint 
Declaration on Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China made a series 
of commitments: that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy; 
that its social and economic systems would remain unchanged until at 
least 2047; and that the personal rights and liberties of the people of 
Hong Kong would be protected by the law.
  Yet we continue to see the PRC infringe on Hong Kong's sovereignty 
and its people's freedoms. It has been made abundantly clear that the 
People's Republic of China has no intention of keeping its promises.
  Most recently, the PRC forced through the draconian but mundane-
sounding Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National 
Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This law casts 
an authoritarian net over Hong Kong and has empowered a crackdown on 
vaguely worded political crimes like subversion and collusion with 
foreign powers. From day one, that law has been abused, with the people 
of Hong Kong arrested for such crimes as wearing stickers or T-shirts 
with disagreeable slogans.
  The rapid erosion of Hong Kongers' rights and freedoms is absolutely 
unacceptable, and it is past time that the PRC and its puppet 
government that it installed in Hong Kong be condemned in the strongest 
possible terms.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution to send a clear message that we in the United States will 
not stand by as the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong are 
stripped away.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers if the gentleman 
from Texas is ready to close.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, sadly, we no longer see American flags waving over 
thousands of peaceful protesters in the streets of Hong Kong. 
Displaying our symbol of liberty has become a criminal act punishable 
by life in prison. But even though the freedom-loving people of Hong 
Kong can no longer publicly ask for our support, we still hear these 
pleas. Congress hears them, the American people hear them, and it is 
now

[[Page H1930]]

more important than ever that we continue to stand with the people of 
Hong Kong.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Meeks for bringing this 
resolution which I was proud to join as a lead cosponsor, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the ranking member for making sure 
we make a unified, strong, bipartisan statement, and all of my 
colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee on both sides of the aisle 
because H. Res. 130 sends a strong and unequivocal message: The United 
States stands firmly in support of the people of Hong Kong and the 
rights, freedoms, and autonomy they are promised in the joint 
declaration and basic law.
  This resolution signals that the House's support of the people of 
Hong Kong and their struggle for democracy shall not waiver and shall 
remain firm and resolute.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join Ranking 
Member McCaul and myself in supporting this resolution, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 130.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________