A bill introduced to the US Congress on Feb. 27 would require their Secretary of State to testify that Hong Kong is “sufficiently autonomous” in order to justify the US having separate treaties with Hong Kong and China on the same issues.
Supporters of the bill, both Republican and Democrat, used some rather strongly critical language when it was introduced, as reported by Quartz’s Heather Timmons:
“US policy toward mainland China has for too long strived to engage the corrupt and gangster regime which rules that country.”—Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican representative from California
“A status quo US policy is unsustainable if Beijing continues to insist that Hong Kong become like mainland China…”—Chris Smith, a Republican representative from New Jersey
“My concern is not just about election mechanics but about Hong Kong’s future as an open society under Beijing’s ‘one country, two systems’ regime.”—Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York.
“Efforts to silence the people of Hong Kong’s independent voice will undoubtedly have a serious impact on China’s relationship with the many nations of this world that stand for democracy and freedom.”—Dan Lipinski, a Democrat from Illinois
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam fired back at the US lawmakers, saying that Hong Kong’s constitutional development is an “internal affair” and that foreign governments should respect the city’s position.
He discouraged the passing of the bill, which he claimed would affect Hongkongers’ daily lives.
Photo: Katie Harbath via Flickr
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