March 22, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Today, members of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) gathered with other members of Congress and civil society groups to call attention to the implications of Hong Kong’s draconian new Article 23 national security legislation.
On the day before the Article 23 legislation comes into effect in Hong Kong, Frances Hui of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation and Anna Kwok of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) joined CECC Chairs Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in calling for immediate action from the United States to hold the Hong Kong government accountable for its assault on freedom. These include the possible imposition of sanctions against Hong Kong officials responsible for undermining the rule of law and human rights and the revocation of the diplomatic privileges and immunities of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) in the U.S.
On March 14, the leaders of the CECC and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken noting their bipartisan opposition to the new security law, calling for an escalation of the travel advisory for Hong Kong, and sanctions on officials “who have played an instrumental role in carrying out Beijing’s bidding to undermine democratic freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong.”
The CFHK Foundation’s Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Frances Hui, said:
“It’s time for the United States to step up for political prisoners and freedom in Hong Kong. Every time we let authoritarians get away with atrocities, we risk other bad actors attempting to do the same. That’s why we need to hold the CCP accountable for what they are doing in Hong Kong, Tibet, East Turkistan, China, Taiwan, and even here in the U.S. We need to send a message to Beijing and the world that there is no place for human rights violators like the CCP. We support the CECC’s recommendations to the Biden administration and we ask this government and Congress to take immediate actions in light of the Article 23 legislation.”
Hong Kong Democracy Council’s Executive Director, Anna Kwok, said:
“While the National Security Law in 2020 was a watershed moment in Hong Kong’s history, Article 23 deals an irreversible blow to Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub. The ambiguous language in Article 23 expands the legal ground for arbitrary political arrests to Hong Kongers — domestic or abroad — and foreigners who have ties with Hong Kong. I urge the administration to respond with appropriate measures, including the implementation of targeted sanctions, a step not taken since 2020. Furthermore, offer humanitarian pathways for Hong Kongers through TPS and P-2, and revoke the HKETOs’ status in the United States. If the U.S. wishes to assert its stance on the PRC, Hong Kong, and safety of Americans in the region, now is the time to act. I thank Congressional allies, including the CECC which is hosting today’s press conference, for their steadfast commitment in supporting our cause.”
Contact:
Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator | frances.hui@thecfhk.org
Huen Lam, Senior Communications Associate | huen.lam@hkdc.us