WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, today joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to introduce the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, legislation that would reaffirm U.S. commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Today’s legislation comes at a time when these freedoms and Hong Kong’s autonomy are under assault by the Chinese government and Communist Party, including their undue influence over Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. The legislation requires the President to issue a strategy determining whether to revise the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition agreement and the State Department’s travel advisory for Hong Kong. The legislation also comes one day after Senator King joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to issue a statement in support of the millions of citizens protesting the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong. 

“Just days after we marked the 30th anniversary of the violent suppression of the student-led protests in Tiananmen Square, agents of China are once again showing the world their lack of respect for the basic human rights of freedom and self-expression,” said Senator King. “These protestors in Hong Kong are standing up for their unique and important status relative to the Chinese central government – and in return, they are being met with aggressive force. The United States stands with these men and women, who have risked so much in order to stand up for the values they – and we – hold dear. I’m proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation because the leaders of Hong Kong must understand that if they take further steps that undermine their special status under the Basic Law, then the unique political and economic relationship between the United States and Hong Kong will also be at risk.”

In addition to Senator King, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is also supported by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.) have introduced companion legislation in the House.

Specifically, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act would:

• Require the Secretary of State to issue an annual certification of Hong Kong’s autonomy to justify special treatment afforded to Hong Kong by the U.S. Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992.
• Require the President to identify persons responsible for the abductions of Hong Kong booksellers and journalists and those complicit in suppressing basic freedoms in Hong Kong, including those complicit in the forced removal of individuals exercising internationally recognized rights to mainland China for detention or trial, and to freeze their U.S.-based assets and deny them entry to the United States.
• Require the President to issue a strategy to protect U.S. citizens and businesses from the implications of a revised Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, including by determining whether to revise the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition agreement and the State Department’s travel advisory for Hong Kong.  
• Require the Secretary of Commerce to issue an annual report assessing whether the Government of Hong Kong is adequately enforcing both U.S. export regulations regarding sensitive dual-use items and U.S. and U.N. sanctions, particularly regarding Iran and North Korea.   
• Make clear that visa applicants shall not be denied visas on the basis of the applicant’s arrest, detention or other adverse government action taken as a result of their participation in the nonviolent protest activities related to pro-democracy advocacy, human rights, or the rule of law in Hong Kong.