US Lawmakers Urge Action to Address Political Crisis in Hong Kong; Pompeo Responds

Police detain a man during the sing with you rally outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong on April 26, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

A bipartisan group of eight U.S. lawmakers is calling attention to Hong Kong’s deteriorating autonomy amid the pandemic, in a letter dated April 28 to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was transferred to Chinese sovereignty in 1997—with Beijing promising that under the “one country, two systems” model, the city would maintain its autonomy and essential freedoms not afforded in the mainland.

But recent examples of Beijing’s interference in local affairs has drawn international concern.

“Hong Kong’s future is of great importance to the United States and to the international community,” wrote Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.); and Reps. James McGovern (D-Mass.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

The lawmakers added: “Failing to address Beijing’s efforts to erode Hong Kong’s autonomy will undermine the freedom and human rights of its people, its valuable role as a partner to the United States, and its unique role in the international economy.”

During an April 29 press conference, Pompeo addressed the situation in Hong Kong, saying, “We continue to monitor with growing concern Beijing’s increasing efforts to interfere.”

He indirectly referred to Chinese officials’ recent calls for Article 23, an anti-subversion law that many feared would impinge on civil liberties, to be reintroduced in Hong Kong. It was first proposed in 2003 and scrapped following a mass protest in July that year.

Luo Huining, head of Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, recently called for an Article 23 bill to be introduced “as soon as possible” during a speech on April 15.

Pompeo said: “Any effort to impose draconian national security legislation on Hong Kong would be inconsistent with Beijing’s promises and would impact American interests there.”

Hong Kong Act

In their letter, the lawmakers urged Pompeo to fully implement the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Signed into law by President Donald Trump on Nov. 27 last year, it requires that the U.S. Secretary of State certify annually whether Hong Kong is “sufficiently autonomous” to justify its special trading status distinguishing it from mainland China.

The law also requires an upcoming report to Congress, which the lawmakers said they hoped would “contain a comprehensive, clear, and accurate assessment of Hong Kong’s autonomy.”

The Act also stipulates that sanctions be placed on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who have violated human rights in the city. The eight lawmakers were co-sponsors of the original Senate and House bills.

Millions took to the streets since June last year to protest a since-scrapped extradition bill. The movement has evolved into calls for greater democracy, as well as opposition to police violence against protesters. In recent months, the protests have quieted down due to the pandemic.

The global outbreak, caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, has also affected Hong Kong, with 1,038 infection cases and four deaths in the city.

Recent Events

Hong Kong police arrested 15 pro-democracy activists on April 18, for allegedly “organizing or participating in unauthorized assemblies.”

“The arrests included 81-year-old Martin Lee, a pillar of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and staunch advocate of the rule of law and peaceful protest,” the lawmakers wrote.

The arrests—the biggest crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement since the mass protests last year—also included current lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung; Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily; and nine former lawmakers including Lee.

International outcry followed, including from over 30 members of the European Parliament.

The U.S. lawmakers also condemned the recent calls to pass Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong, which “would further restrict freedom and autonomy in service of Beijing’s definition of national security,” they said.

The U.S. lawmakers chided the Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Beijing’s highest agency for managing Hong Kong affairs, for their recent remarks about not being bound by Article 22 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.

“No department of the Central People’s Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this Law,” Article 22 states.

On April 18, the Hong Kong government released a statement relating to the powers of the Liaison Office, stating that it was set up under “the Central People’s government [referring to Beijing]” and not under Article 22. Chinese agencies in charge of Hong Kong subsequently defended this interpretation.

On April 20, Hong Kong’s pan-democratic lawmakers held a press conference, saying the claim that the Liaison Office is not bound by Article 22 was the “gravest assault” on the one country, two systems” model, according to local outlet RTHK.

The Hong Kong and Chinese government’s statements risk “further diminishing Hong Kong’s autonomy,” the U.S. senators’ letter said.

“It is critical that the United States use the available tools under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and other authorities, to make clear to Beijing that its violations of its international commitments and its commitments to the people of Hong Kong will have consequences,” the lawmakers concluded.

United Nations

U.S. lawmakers are not the only ones to voice concerns about human rights in Hong Kong.

Six special rapporteurs of the United Nations recently wrote to the Hong Kong government, expressing concerns about two Hong Kong laws: the colonial-era sedition law and the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinances. The latter allows the city’s top official to apply for a court order to specify a criminal suspect as a terrorist or terrorist associate.

“We express our grave concern with the broad definition of what constitutes seditious speech, concerned that the broad definition may restrict legitimate expression,” rapporteurs wrote about the sedition law.

As for the anti-terrorism ordinance, the rapporteurs stated: “ We caution against broad and overly inclusive definitions of terrorism acts, which may result in unintended human rights abuses.”

The rapporteurs’ letter came just days after Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s commissioner of police, said that the police was consulting with the city’s Department of Justice on using the anti-terrorism ordinance to prosecute protesters, according to Apple Daily.

This is not the first time that U.N. special rapporteurs have written to the Hong Kong government. A letter in June last year expressed concern about the police’s excessive use of force against protesters.

In January, rapporteurs expressed concern about the police’s use of chemical agents, such as tear gas and pepper spray, to disperse protesters.

Another letter in February expressed concerns about “intimidation and arrest of healthcare workers,” including first-aiders, who often volunteer their services during protests.