US House passes bill supporting HK protests
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States House gave support to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by passing a bill that would require an annual review of whether the city is sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to justify its special trading status under US law.
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is one of four measures passed by the House on Tuesday in unanimous voice votes.
The bill provides for sanctions against officials “responsible for undermining fundamental freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong.”
A similar bill is also before the Senate, though the timing of a vote there remains uncertain. The legislation has bipartisan support in both chambers.
“Today we’re simply urging the Chinese president and the Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, to faithfully honor the government’s promises” that Hong Kong’s rights and autonomy would be protected, Republican Rep. Chris Smith, prime sponsor of the bill, said on Tuesday on the House floor.
Thousands of protesters gathered on Monday in Hong Kong’s central district to support the legislation, many of them waving American flags.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong government “expressed regret” over the rally calling for the US legislation’s passage.
”Human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong are fully protected by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislation. The HKSAR government attaches great importance to them and is determined to safeguard them,” the spokesman said, referring to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Beijing resolutely opposed the new measures and urged lawmakers to stop interfering. China’s relationship with the United States will be damaged should the legislation become law, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement.