Transcripts For CSPAN2 Congressional Executive Commission On

CSPAN2 Congressional Executive Commission On Hong Kong Protests July 14, 2024

The meeting will come to order. Good morning and welcome to todays hearing, the u. S. Policy responses. This is the secondna Commission Hearing on the situation hong kong. During the may hearing, the commission heard compelling testimony from prodemocracy advocates. They expressed serious concern about the extradition bill that was moving towards becoming law at that time. That legislation wouldve put anyone in hong kong including u. S. Citizens at risk of extradition to Mainland China. Where a lack of due process and custodial leos have been well documented. Over the last six weeks millions of people in hong kong have taken to the streets and unprecedented and sustained show of unity. The protesters have inspired the world and everest their lives, health, jobs and the education to fight for the future of hong kong. Thank you for your courage and thank you for your bravery, we stand in solidarity. As protests get continue, Hong Kong Police use unnecessary force to target those in peaceful demonstrations. The commissioner for human rights is called for an investigation. The uk has suspended export licenses for the sale of teargas and crowd control. In the house of Representatives Congress has introduced 4272 protect hong kong act that would prohibit u. S. Exports to hong kong. U. S. Companies should not be selling equipment used to violently crackdown on prodemocracy protesters. I Hope Congress will pass the legislation as soon as possible. Although consideration of extradition bill has been suspended, the people are calling for greater accountability and democratic participation. Its my understanding that the hong kong protesters have outlined five demands of hong kong and chinese authorities. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses and what the demands are, what progress has been made by the chinese and Hong Kong Government on achieving them, what remains to be done and how we in congress and in the committee might be helpful. The one country, two system framework wasnt tried in the 1984 british declaration and hong kong basic law. This is an international treaty. It was signed by the Chinese Government to allow hong kong with an ultimate aim of electing chief executive and Legislative Council members by universal suffrage. The 2014 protest was sparked by the Chinese Government reneging on his commitment to make hong kong more democratic. It is a continuing erosion of hong kong and taught me and rule of law that fueled the protest in hong kong today. Over the last five years the Chinese Government has prioritized control over hong kong by stifling Free Expression and restricting the space for participation. We have seen the prosecution and sentencing of prodemocracy leaders, the disqualification and removal of legislators and the introduction of a new bill that would restrict Free Expression. The former hong kong chief secretary and Legislative Council member offered this insight. If only beijing would understand what makes hong kong ticked. What are the values that we hold dear. Then they can use energy to benefit china and hong kong and instead they have a mentality of control. If the chief executive and Legislative Council members were elected without influence over the candidate selection. In light of the astronomy and the recent violence against peaceful protesters, i believe it is time for the United States to reconsider its policies. The u. S. , hong kong relations are governed by the policy act of 1992 that commits the United States to trading in hong kong as a second territory from the rest of china so long as it remains sufficiently autonomous. Im proud to support hr 3289 the human rights democracy act sponsored by senator abo and congressman smit smith the litte station requires the secretary to certify on an annual basis hong kong is autonomous in order to justify special economic financial and trade treatment different from Mainland China under u. S. Law. Its time we put the government on an annual notice further erosion of autonomy and crackdown will cause the city and by extension Mainland China to lose the special arrangement with the United States. Over the years hong kong because of its strong commitment to the rule of law could good governance, human rights and in the open Economic System the erosion of the system is not only for people who attempt to speak out, but the Economic Vitality of the city itself. We stand together with the people of hong kong and all the people of china when we express concerns about the Human Rights Violations of the hong kong and Chinese Governments. Our focus today is doing right by the people of hong kong as they seek a democratic future that protects the autonomy and rule of law. Thank you for convening this important hearing it for your willingness to host it here in the senate side. I want to thank you for doing this and i look forward to our partnership and in particular as it relates to the topic i also want to thank all of our witnesses especially those who are on the front lines and had even been jailed multiple times and we will hear from them today about the things that have been done against them and your commitment to freedom and democracy is inspiring. Its why so many of us served here and what we seek to preserve around the world thats why we want to stand against your fight and fight of every human who yearns for liberty and dignity demands that their rights be respected and upheld. The people of hong kong we stand with you and by the come of this is a bicameral, bipartisan commitment as you will see today in the past few days on these efforts across both Political Parties in every major figure and not only that Many Americans stand with you and you in your o keep the cherished freedom. A few months ago we held a hearing that was titled the future in the balance eroding autonomy and challenges to human rights and that the airing and even before it was highlighted on the facts the communist party has been eroding the autonomy and freedom guaranteed by the joint declaration and by the basic law. It would have passed were exposed everybody in hong kong and that includes the 80,000 americans who reside. Would have exposed them to the Justice System or the socalled Justice System of the Chinese Communist party. The same system that routinely tortures those in its custody is that denies medical care and arrests lawyers for serving their clients and places the desire of the communist party about every industry demand for justice. The bill is real and increasing a threat to the autonomy but few of us could have anticipated the events that would follow since june theyve taken to the streets for 15 straight weeks and more than 400 demonstrations involving more than 8 Million People of every age and every background. Recently thereve been credible reports that have emerged of the brutal treatment of demonstrators while in their custody. This weekend for example, we saw images of the Police Holding down a protester whose head was bleeding and spraying into the wound pepper spray which is an act of total cruelty. We watched them through grenades and many of whom were far away from the demonstrators since the 25th of july, they were associated with organized crime and the united front activities conferenccon fronted the demonss and journalists and passerby is into the police just looked the other way, and in some cases even coopted. While detained demonstrators had been beaten. In the detention, smoking and playing on their cell phones after attacking journalists and demonstrators. They may have promised to withdraw when they convene in october, the violent response to the demonstration demands accountability and refuses to press for any accountability for the violence by the Security Forces that was committed and continues to be committed against peaceful protesters. The chief executive didnt listen to the outcry since its introduction in a rather tried to ram it through the legislature. So what is at stake, the stubbornness in the face of outcry on one of the greatest power movements we have witnessed in recent memory the actions of the government and the people demonstrate that there are two, the hong kong of the government leveraged has proven its not committed to a free and autonomous future nor is it one of rule of law or justice. The various youth activists, doctors and lawyers, every walk of life theyve shown us with a vibrant civic life prepared to stand up for its own autonomy, democracy and liberty. Its clear they are colliding into the city iand the city is. It also has implications for the rest of the world as a trade investment they are just as threatened as the hong kong people are as long as they are being threatened by the way not by us but by the communist party of china. Its long overdue to respond and i hope that we quickly passed the act which i hope will be heard so that we can provide this and future administrations with updated tools to respond robustly and flexible to the Party Proxies undermining the autonomy. They need the whole officials accountable. Because of the special status which is made, the International Financial center built on the promises that hong kong made the world a china made which they now seek to break into the leaders must either respect the autonomy, or know that they are eslating aggression will lead them to face real consequences not just from the United States but from the free world and i wish you one final warning on this regard. I anticipate fully that they will continue the work to turn the system of government and hong kong to resemble that which exists and allows them to intervene in the legal system as they wish. So we are here today to examine what has happened. Its not a chinese internal affair and the world has the responsibility to help the people of hong kong move towards a future that protects their individual freedoms and provides for the civic wellbeing. I look forward to hearing your views on todays discussion and thank you for your courage and commitment. Let me emphasize one thing senator rubio said. We represent a diverse political spectrum. We have a lot of differences and issues we probably couldnt even agree on what to have for one shot. We believe that the cause is noble and we are honored you are all here today. I will yield over to mr. Smith. The best and bravest and the brightest thank you for being here and being witness to what hong kong is doing. As we know, the courageous protests there are a daily reminder of the stark differences between free and authoritarian societies, the people of hong kong have shown the world that a free people will not accept the repression without protest. Its also done the world a Great Service and exposed the plan to erode freedom guaranteed to the people of hong kong by international treaty. Theyve exposed the pernicious and repressive behavior and make no doubt about it, the Chinese Government is both uniquely pick annoyed about maintaining its grip on power. Today there are over a million in turn into political education camps. Human rights lawyers have disappeared and have been horribly tortured in detention. Journalists as well face the egregious abuse why would anyone want their political faith determined by beijing, if given the choice, no one would. Theyve raised serious concerns about the actions of the hong kong and Chinese Communist government. The violence and the use of force perpetrated by thugs and police is extremely alarming. The representative and i were the first members of congress to call on the Trump Administration to defend the sale of tear gas an rubber bullets, pepper spray and other crowd control equipment. We can qckly passed the protect act that we introduced last week. Also alarming are the repeated and irresponsible threats of intervention made by chinese officials given that it marks the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. They are responsible for the grievance expressed by the protesters, and they alone can peacefully end the protest by addressing the demand for that universal suffrage and stagnation of the police threats. Blaming the United States unites government and u. S. Congress for the protest is an act of propaganda a not defending the aspirations of Global Leadership at this time for the u. S. Policies to respond to beijing longterm ambitions in the hong kong and passed the human rights and democracy act. Five years ago, mr. Chairman, i introduced the human rights democracy act with my cochair, senator brown and it still allows for the most robust response to the steady erosion of the autonomy and human rights. Over the years senator rubio and i upgraded a bill to reflect to nothing of booksellers, disqualification of elected lawmakers, the political prosecutions of joshua, denny dy and others. However, every time, every single time we push for the passage there was opposition for the diplomats. They would undermine the efforts with beijings into the hand of ofs elected leaders we were told that the bill would cost u. S. Businesses. Since Tiananmen Square and the big issue and the experts failed the American People and their advice helped parts of our own economy. Their advice this time will fail the people of hong kong as well. They continue to deserve special treatment under the law for Mainland China and that is different in such matters as trade, customs, sanctions and Law Enforcement, cooperation and protected the rights of law. Not to deny the entry based on an applicant to rest in detention for participating in the protest activities in hong kong. To submit a strategy through congress to protect u. S. Citizens and businesses in hong kong from the erosion of autonomy and the rule of law because the actions taken by the Chinese Communist government. It requires the president to identify and sanction persons in hong kong or Mainland China responsible for the autonomy and abuse of human rights. We have a wide agreement for this legislation and its time that it pass. Ive heard it said that the business of hong kong is business. I believe that its clear the business of hong kong is freedom they are working to protect the rights and rule of law they are the foundation of the citys prosperity and the unique vitality. This in so many colleagues in both the house and senate to stand united with the people of hong kong and will not be silent in the face of threats to their continued liberties, guaranteed liberties and way of life. The committee cannot be silenced or just make noise but nothing that backs it up. The whole world has a stake in the peaceful and just resolution of hong kongs survival of the one country systems model. Hong kong people, got ago. Yield back. [applause] im proud to introduce the panel of witnesses this morning. The three of the witnesses traveled all the way from hong kong to provide testimony to congress and includes a prodemocracy activist in secretarygeneral at the age of 15 he organized protests against Patriotic Education in hong kong and subsequently rose to prominence as a core leader of the 2014 number one movement. He was also one of the first three Political Prisoners since 97 sentence in 2018 for leadership roles in the Umbrella Movement which recently he was arrested in august, 2019 for his role in a peaceful protest by the headquarters of the extradition bill movement. Denise from a prodemocracy activist and awardwinningbased singer, producer and actress. A prominent supporter of the extradition bill protest in hong kong and leading figure of the proDemocracy Movement. Arrested during the 2014 movement for taking prior to protest the government has banned her from performing in china and in july 2019 interest the council in geneva during which she was repeatedly interrupted by the chinese delegation. A spokesperson for the Education International affairs publication and activist from the Student Union university of hong kong. The bill protesters and a proDemocracy Movement. In hong kong, taiwan, south korea, the United States and United Nations and recently gave a speech in the uk house of commons in support of hong kong. The executive director of human rights in china where she leads his International Advocacy and Strategic Policy engagement with ngos, governments and multistakeholder initiatives. Theyve covered human rights and Democracy Development and the 2014 number one movement and has presented in the numerous evenings in a wide range of human rights issues a professor

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