Recognizing Hong Kong's Bilateral Relationship with the United States

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey very much for allowing me to speak on the subject of Hong Kong today.

I rise in support of all these bills before us today, particularly the bill from my friend from New Jersey, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and I stand in solidarity with all freedom-loving people in Hong Kong.

For more than 4 months, we have witnessed Hong Kong citizens peacefully protest for the right to live in a free and fair political system.

Over my years, I have traveled to Hong Kong and witnessed their innovative spirit and work ethic. In fact, Hong Kong was the model for the post-World War II growth of the Asian Tigers in their prosperity and innovation.

In the 1980s, when a proponent of welfare statism queried pro-growth economist Melvyn B. Krauss:

``But how many Hong Kongs can the world have?''

Dr. Krauss replied, ``As many as the world will allow itself.''

Freedom lovers should rally to that wisdom.

This summer, I had the opportunity to hear directly from leaders in Hong Kong dedicated to religious tolerance and democracy as promised in the one country, two systems agreement.

The people of Hong Kong continue to wave American flags during their protests as a symbol for the freedoms that they desire.

Rather than receiving support from all over our great land here in this country, they have had to witness the blatant hypocrisy that we have seen from U.S. companies, including the National Basketball Association, more worried about the bottom line and retribution from the PRC, rather than standing up for the basic human rights that we are so blessed with in this country and that we advocate for as a part of our foreign policy all over this globe.

The free world is looking to us for leadership, and that is why I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Sherman for supporting these legislative efforts on a bipartisan basis, but more importantly, supporting the people in Hong Kong that they have the right to freedom of expression and democratic governance guaranteed under that 50-year arrangement agreed to in 1997 by both--by both, Mr. Speaker--the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support these measures today, and I thank their sponsors.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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