Menendez, Risch Applaud SFRC Passage of Resolution in Support of Hong Kongers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of S.Res.106, a resolution condemning Beijing's destruction of Hong Kong's democracy and rule of law.

“I welcome the Committee’s approval of our bipartisan resolution condemning Beijing’s destruction of Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law. Beijing’s abandonment of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, violent attempts to quash peaceful protests, and pursuit of politically-motivated charges – such as those against Jimmy Lai – silence Hong Kongers’ voices, undermine their autonomy, and eliminate trust in the rule of law, all of which were promised and set Hong Kong apart in the eyes of the international community. In the face of such repression, we cannot be silent. As our resolution moves next to the Senate Floor, we affirm our commitment to stand with Hong Kongers and continue to amplify their brave calls for basic respect for free speech, personal safety, and democratic and human rights,” said Chairman Menendez.

“The Hong Kong government’s continued harassment of Hong Kongers like Jimmy Lai and Cardinal Zen through false and politically-motivated charges must stop,” said Ranking Member Risch. “Today’s committee passage of this resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to holding Beijing and the Hong Kong government accountable for its abuses. All wrongfully-accused defendants should be released immediately.”

This 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 Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 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.
• Encourages the United States and other governments to press multilateral organizations to no longer grant Hong Kong voting rights separate from China.

In addition to Risch and Menendez, this resolution was also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ben Lujan (D-N.M.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kevin Cramer (D-N.D.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Gary Peters (R-Mich.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Full text of the resolution as introduced can be found here.

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