Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), who serves as Chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution to condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) crackdowns on Hong Kong and support Hong Kongers’ human rights.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-06) also joined as an original cosponsor.
“A threat to freedom anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere,” said Kim. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to support Hong Kongers and take steps to combat the CCP’s malign influence and human rights abuses. I will not let authoritarianism in the Indo-Pacific go unchecked by United States under my watch as Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman.”
“Each of us has a duty to stand up for democracy and human rights around the world, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with this resolution today,” said Connolly. “Beijing must be held to account for their flagrant disregard for human rights and their incessant attacks on democracy in Hong Kong.”
“I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan resolution condemning China for their repeated violations of human rights and infringement on Hong Kong’s democracy,” said Williams. “We must hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable and pass tough on China legislation. America stands with the people of Hong Kong as they fight for their God-given rights to freedom.”
“The government of the People’s Republic of China has transformed Hong Kong beyond recognition,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D., Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. “Beijing’s oppressive actions have included the unjust arrest and detention of pro-democracy advocates, the stifling of free press to quell criticism and dissent, and the dismantling of Hong Kong’s once-independent legal system. The United States must continue to draw attention to the abuses committed by the PRC against the people of Hong Kong.”
The resolution:
- Condemns the Chinese government’s “Hong Kong national security law” and related human rights abuses;
- Supports the people of Hong Kong as they fight to exercise fundamental rights and freedoms;
- Condemns the CCP’s practice of bringing false and politically-motivated charges against Hong Kongers, as well as the state-directed theft of Apple Daily – Jimmy Lai’s media company;
- Urges the U.S. government to use all available tools, including those authorized by the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, in response to the CCP’s actions in Hong Kong; and,
- Encourages the United States and other governments to press multilateral organizations to no longer grant Hong Kong voting rights separate from China.
Read the resolution HERE.
