Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1838, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.
I want to say thank you to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her incredible leadership in ensuring that the House made a timely and unequivocal statement in support of the Hong Kong people at this very important and vital time.
I would also like to thank Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, as well as Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for bringing this legislation to the floor today. I also appreciate the leadership of Senators Rubio, Cardin, and Menendez for all that they have done.
Mr. Speaker, in recent months, the situation in Hong Kong has worsened as the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments have escalated repression against the protest movement and provoked more violence and chaos.
The recent attacks on university campuses, including last weekend against students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University raises disturbing questions on the strategy of the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments. Protestors were violently assaulted and not even allowed to escape without facing a barrage of tear gas and police brutality.
It is long past time for the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments to try a different approach that respects the people of Hong Kong and restores the people's faith in the autonomy of the government. That is what political leaders do, they use dialogue and negotiation to achieve their goals. The demands of the protestors are reasonable, and an independent inquiry into the police violence is more than justified.
In what was initially a positive development, this week the Hong Kong High Court decided that the government's recent facemask ban was unconstitutional. Unfortunately, the fierce response by Beijing to that ruling and claim of sole jurisdiction over constitutional review almost certainly violates the basic law, subverts the rule of law, and further undermines whatever trust the Hong Kong people have left in their governing institutions.
If the Hong Kong court system is not sufficiently autonomous, then it is difficult, if not impossible, to argue that Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous. It should be clear by now that Hong Kong's leaders are beholden to the Chinese Government, and the independence of the judiciary is being undermined.
The ``one country, two systems'' framework enshrined in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's basic law has been rapidly eroding and has now reached a point when the United States has no choice but to modify its policy toward Hong Kong.
It is time we put the Chinese Government on annual notice that further erosion of autonomy or a crackdown will cause the city, which serves as an important financial haven for wealthy Chinese elites, to lose its special economic, financial and trade arrangement with the United States.
Further, the legislation authorizes sanctions against individuals who violate human rights, and states that Hong Kong visa applicants should not be denied entry to the U.S. on the basis of politically-motivated arrests due to their protest activities.
Today a Chinese official said that they will take strong opposing measures if the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy bill passes.
Well, I have a message for Beijing: The United States will not stand idly by while the Chinese Government stifles free expression and tightens its grip on Hong Kong.
Over the years, Hong Kong has prospered and become the financial center of Asia because of its strong commitment to the rule of law, good governance, human rights, and an open economic system.
We must use our leverage to help the people of Hong Kong in their struggle to secure a democratic future that protects Hong Kong's autonomy and way of life.
I am proud to support this legislation, which we will pass today with an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority.
I now call upon the President of the United States, who has been way too silent on this issue, to sign the bill into law.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey.
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