Look at the protests taking place in hong kong. The unrest began as a movement against a law allowing hong kongers to be deported to china. Since june millions of protesters have marched through the streets demanding greater democracy. Set to start in just a moment here. Live coverage on cspan 3. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to todays hearing on hong kongs summer of discontent and u. S. Policy responses. This is the second China Commission hearing this year on the situation in hong kong. During our may hearing, the commission heard compelling testimony from Hong Kong Pro Democracy advocates, including martin lee and nathan law who expressed concerns about the extradition bill that was quickly moving towards becoming law at that time. That legislation would have put anyone in hong kong, including u. S. Citizens, at risk of extradition to Mainland China. A lack of due process and custodial abuse have been welldocumented. Over the last 16 weeks, millions of people from all walks of life in hong kong have taken to the streets in an unprecedented and sustained show of unity. The protesters have inspired the world and have risked their lives, their health, their jobs and their education to fight for the future of hong kong. Thank you for your coverage and thank you for your bravery. We stand in solidarity with you. As protests continue throughout the summer, Hong Kong Police used excessive and unnecessary force to target those engaged in peaceful demonstrations. The u. N. High commissioner for human rights as called for an investigation. The uk has suspended export licenses for the sale of tear gas and crowd control equipment. And the house of representatives, congressman chris smith and i have introduced hr 4270 that would prohibit u. S. Exports of Police Equipment to hong kong. U. S. Companies should not be selling equipment used to violently crack down on protesters. I Hope Congress will pass this legislation as soon as possible. Although consideration of the extradition bill has been suspended the people of hong kong are calling for greater accountability. Its my understanding that the hong kong protesters have outlined five demands of hong kong and chinese authorities. I look forward to hearing from todays witnesses, what progress has been made, what remains to be done and how we and congress and the International Community might be helpful. The one country two systems framework was enshrined in the 1984 declaration and hong kongs basic law. This is an International Treaty signed by the Chinese Government to allow hong kong a high degree of aufa automy. It is the continuing erosion of hong kongs autonomy. We have seen the prosecution and sentencing of pro democracy leaders, the disqualification and removal of pro democracy legislators and the introduction of a new National Bill that would restrict free expression. The former hong kong chief secretary and Legislative Council member recently offered this insight. If only beijing would understand what makes hong kong tick. What are the values we hold dear, then they can use that energy to benefit china and hong kong. Instead, they have this mentality of control, end quote. While the proefrts were sparked by concerns about the extradition bill, the heart of the discontent is that hong kongs political leaders do not represent and are not accountable to the people. Instead, hong kong tfs leaders are beholden to the Chinese Government. Millions of people would not have to protest in the streets if they could freely choose their political leaders. I hope the Chinese Government would understand that stability and prosperity can be achieved if hong kongs autonomy is respected and Council Members were elected without chinese influence. In light of the erosion of the hong kongs autonomy and the recent violence i believe its time for the u. S. To reconsidering its relations with hong kong. Theres a separate customs territory for the rest of china so long as hong kong remains sufficiently autonomous. Im proud to support hr 3289 sponsored by senator rubio and congressman smith. The legislation will require the secretary of state to certify that hong kong is autonomous in order to justify economic and trade treatment different from Mainland China under u. S. Law. Its time we put the Chinese Government on an annual notice that further erosion of automaautonomy will cause the city and Mainland China to lose its special trade arrangement with the United States. Hong kong has prospered to become the financial heart of asia because of an open economic system. The erosion of this unique system threatens not only the people who attempt to speak out, but the Economic Vitality of the city itself. To be clear, we stand together with the people of hong kong and, indeed, all the people of china where we express our 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 projects hong kongs autonomy of rule of law. Id like to yield to senator rubi rubio. Thank you for convening this hearing and your willingness to host it here on the senate side. Its quiet. Yeah. A little different pace. We have four votes yesterday. Today people will be exhausted. Anyway, i want to thank you for doing this. I look forward to our continued partnership on this commission. Particularly as it relates to the topic. I want to thank all of our witnesses, especially those who are on the front lines and have even be jailed multiple times and well hear from them today about the things that have been done against them and your commitment to freedom and democracy is inspiring. It really is inspiring for those of us at this republic. It reminds us why so many serve here and what we seek to preserve around the world. Thats why we want to stand with you. Your fight and the fight of our fellow hong kongers is the fight of every human who yearns for liberty and dignity and demands their fundamental rights be respected and upheld. Let me say that the people of hong kong, we stand with you, by we, this is a bicameral, bipartisan commitment as youll see today across both Political Parties and every major figure. Not only that, but Many Americans stand with you in your fight to keep your long cherished freedoms. A few months ago in may we held a hearing on hong kong. Hong kongs future in the balance. At that hearing and before it was highlighted the Chinese Communist party has been eroding hong kongs freedoms guaranteed by the joint federation. The may bill discussed the extradition bill. That includes 80,000 americans who reside there, would have exposed them to the Justice System or the socalled Justice System of the Chinese Communist party. The proposed bill exposed the real and increasing threat to hong kongs autonomy. But few of us could have anticipated the events that would follow. Since june, the people of hyang have bravely taken to the streets for 15 straight weeks and more than 400 separate demonstrations involving more than 8 Million People of every age and every background. Recently there have been incredible reports that have emerged about the treatment of protesters in their custody. We saw images of the Police Holding down a protesters whose head was bleeding and spraying into the wound on the head pepper spray. Which is an act of total cruelty. We watched the police throw tear gas grenades at journalists, many of whom are far away from the demonstrators. Since the 21st of july, thugs associated with organized crime have violently confronted demonstrators and journalists and innocent passer bys and the police looked on. Looked the other way and in some cases even cooperated. And while detained demonstrators have been beaten or their faces smashed into the concrete, journalists have photographed these same thugs in detention, quote unquote, smoking and playing on their cell phones after attacking journalists and demonstrators. Although hong kongs chief executive may have promised today withdraw the extradition bill legislator reconvened, accountability is demanded. The Hong Kong Government refuses to ask for accountability for the violence that continues to be committed against peaceful protesters. The chief executive did not listen to the outcry in hong kong, rather tried to ram it through the legislature. Whats at stake . Hong kongs stubbornness has launched one of the greatest people power movements weve witnessed in recent history. There are two hong kongs. The hong kong of the government, totally leveraged by the Chinese Government has proven its not committed to a free and autonomous future for hong kong, nor is it one of rule of law or justice. The other hong kong is the one of its people, the students and youth activists. Arti artists, lawyers, accountants, from every walk of life. Theyve shown us a hong kong with a vibrant life. The citys is at a cross roads. Maintaining autonomy has real implications for the United States and the rest of the world. Hong kongs status as an International Hub is threatened just as the freedoms of the hong kong people. Threatened by the way not by us, but by the communist party of china. Its my belief its long overdue for the United States to respond. I hope we pass the hong kong rights act so we can provide this and future administrations with updated tools to respond robustly to Chinese Communist party who are undermining hong kongs autonomy. The u. S. Government aneed to u. Officials accountability for their failure to uphold their commitments. The United States and other nations have options precisely because beijing benefits from hong kongs special status, which has made hong kong an International Financial center. Built on the promises that hong kong made to the china made to the world with regards to hong kong which they seek to break. Chinas leaders must respect their autonomy or know their aggression will lead them to face real consequences, not just from the United States but from the free world. I issue one final warning in this regard. I anticipate fully theyll continue their work to turn the system of government in hong kong to resemble one in macao. Hong kong must remain a priority. Hong kong is not a chinese internal affair and the world has a responsibility to help the people of hong kong move towards a future that protects their individual freedoms and provides for civic well being. I look forward to hearing the views in todays discussion. I thank you for your courage and commitment. Thank you very much. Let me just emphasize one thing senator rubio said. We represent on this commission a diverse political spectrum for the left and right and everything in between. We have differences on lots of issues. We couldnt agree on what to have for lunch. But we have one thing in common, we believe that your cause is noble and just and were honored youre here today. So we want to welcome our panel. I want to introduce each one and well go to testimony. Do you want to do okay all right. Ill yield to mr. Smith. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. What a panel of heroes. The best and the bravest and brightest. Thank you for being here and bearing witness to a very uglying truth as to what hong kong is doing. Its been a long hot summer in hong kong as we all know. The inspiring and 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 a free people will not accept repression without protests. The millions of hong kong protesters have also done the world a great service. They have exposed beijings plans to erode freedoms guaranteed to the people of hong kong. They have exposed beijings repressive behavior and make no doubt about it the Chinese Government is repressive and paranoid about maintaining its grip of power. Today there are a more than a milli milli million christians, tibetans and journalists face abuse in a system of surveillance operating in the world today. Why would anyone want their political fate determined by beijing . Given a choice, no one would. As inspiring tprotests have bee, they have raised questions about the communiest government. The use of force by thugs and police i repeat myself is extremely alarming. We were the first members of congress to call on the Trump Administration to suspend the sale of tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other crowd control equipment to the Hong Kong Police. And i agree with that. We need to quickly pass the protect act that we introduced last week. Also alarming are the repeat and irresponsible threats of intervention made by chinese officials. Particularly given this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The Hong Kong Government is responsible for the grieves of the protesters. They alone can peacefully end the protests by addressing the demands for universal suffrage and investigation of police threats. Blaming the United States government and blaming the u. S. Congress for the protests is a act of cowardly propaganda and not befitting of a nation such as china which has aspirations of global leadership. Its time for the u. S. Policy to respond to beijings long term ambitions and pass the hong kong human rights and democracy act. Five years ago, mr. Chairman, i introduced the hong kong human rights and democracy act with my ce cochair, senator brown. The bill allows for more robust u. S. Response to the erosion of hong kongs autonomy and human rights. Over the years senator rubio squand i have upgraded the bill to include political prosecutions of joshua wong, nathan law, and others. However, every time, every single time we pushed for passage, there was opposition from the diplomats, the socalled experts, the Committee Chairs from both the house and the senate and the American Chamber of commerce in hong kong. We were told not to upset the status quo. We were told that it would undermine their efforts with beijing and its hand selected political leaders in hong kong. We were told our bill would cost u. S. Businesses. Its the exact same advice that we have been hearing on china since teiananmen square. Their advice this time will fail the people of hong kong as well. Specifically mr. Chairman, as you know, the bill directs the secretary of state to certify to congress analnually. Such matters of trade, customs, sanctions, Law Enforcement cooperation and rule of law. It directs the state department not i say not to deny entry visas based on an applicants arrest or detention for participating in nonviolent protests activities in hong kong. It requires a report from the Commerce Department and whether the Hong Kong Government adequately enforces u. S. Export controls. It requires the secretary of state to submit a strategy to congress to protect u. S. Citizens and businesses in hong kong from the erosion of autonomy in the rule of law because of actions taken by the Chinese Communist government. It requires the president to identify sanctioned persons in hong kong or Mainland China to be responsible for the erosion of hong kongs autonomy. We have wide agreement for this legislation. Its time its passed. Ive heard it said the business of hong kong is business. I believe its clear that the business of hong kong is freedom. The people of hong kong are working to protect the rights and rule of law that are the foundation of the citys prosperity and unique vitality. This commission and so many of our colleagues in the house and senate 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 u. S. And the International Community cannot be silent or just make nose with nothing that backs it up. The whole world has a stake in the peaceful and just resolution of hong kongs and the survival of the one country two systems model. Hong kong people, i yield back. Im proud to introduce our esteemed panel of witnesses this morning. Three witnesses travelled all the way from hong kong to provide their testimony to this congress. The Panel Includes joshua wong, a pro democracy activists and the secretary general. At the age of 15 he organized protests against Patriotic Education in hong kong. He was on hong kongs first three Political Prisoners since 1997. Sentenced in 2018 with nathan law and alex chou for leadership roles in the Umbrella Movement. He was arrested in august 2019 for his role in a peaceful protest outside Police Headquarters during the ant