[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5559-S5560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 821--CONDEMNING THE ARREST OF CARDINAL ZEN IN HONG 
   KONG, AND REAFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT OF THE SENATE TO SUPPORTING 
 DEMOCRACY, AUTONOMY, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG

  Mr. CRAMER (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Padilla) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 821

       Whereas, in May 2022, Hong Kong authorities arrested 
     Cardinal Zen, a 90-year-old bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and 
     outspoken critic of China's ruling Communist Party, on 
     spurious charges, accusing him and four others of violating 
     China's national security by ``colluding with foreign 
     forces,'' as well as for allegedly failing to register a fund 
     established to assist people arrested in the mass anti-
     government protests that began in 2019;
       Whereas China imposed a so-called ``national security law'' 
     in 2020, effectively crushing Hong Kong's opposition 
     movement, overhauling its electoral system to provide Beijing 
     with even more control, silencing free media, and crippling 
     its once-vibrant civil society;
       Whereas hundreds of protestors, activists, and former 
     opposition lawmakers have been arrested since the ``national 
     security law'' came into force;
       Whereas Hong Kong is devolving into an increasingly 
     repressive society where no one resisting government tyranny 
     is safe, including religious leaders and communities;
       Whereas, in 2022, the United Kingdom announced that two of 
     its Supreme Court judges would no longer sit on Hong Kong's 
     top court, as the threat to civil liberties and lack of 
     judicial independence had made their role untenable;
       Whereas Cardinal Zen and five prominent pro-democracy 
     campaigners have pleaded not guilty in court in Hong Kong for 
     failing to properly register a humanitarian fund they 
     established to help people arrested in anti-government 
     protests in 2019; and
       Whereas the story of Cardinal Zen is only one of many such 
     instances of religious persecution and infringement on 
     democratic freedom in China and around the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the arrest of Cardinal Zen by the Hong Kong 
     authorities at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party;
       (2) calls for all charges to be immediately dropped against 
     Cardinal Zen;
       (3) reaffirms religious freedom as a fundamental right; and
       (4) urges the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to cease 
     targeting Hong Kong's civil society actors and to immediately 
     release and drop all charges against all political prisoners 
     who have been unjustly detained and charged.

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