Risch, Shaheen Condemn Hong Kong Government for Rights Abuses

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (R-N.H.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced a resolution to condemn the Chinese government for its destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy through the 2020 ‘national security law’ and the 2024 ‘Article 23 Ordinance’. Both laws give the government in Hong Kong, backed by the Chinese government, sweeping power to criminalize the activities of individuals and businesses and have ultimately stripped away the basic rights of the people in Hong Kong.

“The Chinese government has effectively ended Hong Kong’s autonomy. Once a thriving hub for international business, Hong Kong is now a seat of authoritarian oppression: the rule of law is disregarded, free speech is silenced, and dissent is met with persecution. This is most starkly demonstrated in the imprisonment of media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai,” said Senator Risch. “The collapse of Hong Kong’s legal and political freedoms has also created a risk-filled environment for businesses. I urge all American companies to reconsider their business presence in Hong Kong and join me in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.”

“Beijing has spent the past four years repeatedly and flagrantly breaching its international obligations in Hong Kong,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “More than a thousand political prisoners have been wrongfully detained or imprisoned, all victims of an unjust crackdown on freedom and democracy. The sham trial of Jimmy Lai, who has advocated for freedom of expression and assembly in Hong Kong for decades, represents Beijing’s determination to silence any and all critics. The international community, along with our allies and partners, must stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, highlight their fight for democracy and human rights, and demand accountability from both the PRC and Hong Kong leadership.”

This resolution:

• Condemns the Chinese government’s destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy through the 2020 ‘national security law’ and the 2024 ‘Article 23 Ordinance,’ as well as the Hong Kong authorities’ human rights abuses against people inside and outside of Hong Kong.
• Expresses concern that Hong Kong no longer has credibility as an international business center due to the erosion of rule of law and judicial independence.
• Supports the people of Hong Kong as they fight to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Condemns the Hong Kong government’s expansion of its national security regime and its pursuit of politically motivated charges against pro-democracy advocates, including Jimmy Lai.
• Encourages the United States and other governments to press multilateral organizations to no longer grant Hong Kong voting rights separate from China.
• 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 authoritarian actions in Hong Kong.

Text of the resolution can be found here.

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