On Monday night (April 19), the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 418 to 1 in favor of Resolution 130, condemning China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government for continuing to violate the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
The resolution calls on China and the Hong Kong government to release Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and politicians arrested under the “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law” and encourages the President, the State Department and the Treasury Department to work with other allies and partners to help protect Hong Kong people. partners to help protect the people of Hong Kong, support international court proceedings against Beijing for its failure to comply with its legal commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, continue to impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong government officials, and work with allies to ensure that enforcement of sanctions is multilateral in nature.
“Congressional Resolution 130, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on lawmakers to pass the resolution unanimously, expressing a strong bipartisan demand that the Chinese and Hong Kong governments respect the will of the people of Hong Kong. The cross-party resolution ended up passing almost unanimously, with only one vote against.
During the discussion, House Speaker Pelosi said, “In Congress, democracy in Hong Kong has always had bipartisan, bicameral support, in the House and Senate, from Democrats and Republicans alike,” and “The United States will be laser-focused on holding China accountable and supporting Hong Kong’s efforts to maintain the rule of law and freedom of speech efforts. I have also repeatedly conveyed to President after President that Hong Kong is a bipartisan consensus in both houses of Congress.
Senior Democratic Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey said the cross-party resolution is important and much needed now. It condemns the ongoing persecution of human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong. He also cited the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of human rights, including “the Tibetans, the Uighurs, which has now turned into a genocide, and the persecution of freedom of worship, including Falun Gong.”
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Hong Kong people will no longer be seen waving American flags in the streets of Hong Kong during peaceful protests. They display symbols of freedom and could be arrested under the National Security Act, possibly with life sentences. But “even though freedom-loving Hong Kong people can no longer publicly ask for our support, we still hear their pleas. Americans hear their voices. More than ever, we continue to stand with her [Hong Kong], with the people of Hong Kong.”
Outside the U.S. Congress, the three-day annual Hong Kong Democratic Committee Policy Conference also began this Monday, inviting a number of prominent Hong Kong activists in exile to participate in discussions. As a guest of honor on the first day of the event, Pelosi stressed at the meeting that U.S. actions in support of Hong Kong will include continued legislative push, enhanced cooperation with the international community, and continued strong advocacy for human rights in China. Pelosi added: Like everyone else, I am very sad to see Li and other pro-democracy activists sentenced for their peaceful protests. The trials and sentences (of pro-democracy activists) are further evidence of Beijing’s growing assault on the rule of law in Hong Kong. As always, we will speak out loudly about Beijing’s repression and ensure that the Chinese (Communist) government’s attempts to silence voices are heard.”
The meeting also featured Senators and Representatives from both Republican and Democratic parties. The Hong Kong Democratic Committee, founded in September 2019, is the first lobbying organization launched by Hong Kong people in the United States.
Last Friday (April 16), a Hong Kong court sentenced nine Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders to prison terms ranging from eight months to one and a half years: 82-year-old Lee Chu-ming, known as the “father of democracy” in Hong Kong; 72-year-old Next Media founder Lai Chi-ying; 64-year-old Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China; 69-year-old Ho Chun-ying, former chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China; and a number of former Legislative Council members. Yan and a number of former legislators from the pro-democracy camp, including 73-year-old Ng Yi-yee, 65-year-old Leung Kwok-hung, 66-year-old Ho Sau-lan, 67-year-old Leung Yiu-chung and 33-year-old Au Nok-hin. The nine pro-democracy activists were charged with “organizing an unauthorized assembly” and “participating in an unauthorized assembly” during a “running” rally at the Victoria Park in Hong Kong on Aug. 18, 2019. “He was arrested by police in April last year.
On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken issued a statement in which he condemned the sentencing of pro-democracy leaders by a Hong Kong court as “politically motivated” and “inconsistent with the nature of their nonviolent actions. He said, “Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities are targeting Hong Kong people for doing nothing more than exercising their protected rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.”
Blinken added, “Today’s ruling is another example of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities undermining the rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration in order to eliminate all forms of dissent.” The United States will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, and it will not stop demanding the release of those detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms.
On the 16th, a number of consular officials from various countries in Hong Kong were on hand at the court to show solidarity with the defendants, including Rogier Hekking, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Joakim Ladeborn, Deputy Consul General of the Swedish Consulate in Hong Kong, and consular officials from Australia, Canada, France, and the European Union.
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