Press Release

Today, on the second anniversary of the promulgation of the draconian national security law in Hong Kong, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, and Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, issued the following statement:

"Since the Governments of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) imposed national security legislation on the people of Hong Kong two years ago, we have seen a city transformed beyond recognition.

"Beijing and the HKSAR government have arrested en masse pro-democracy advocates and lawmakers, many of whom remain held without bail. They have shuttered free press in an attempt to silence criticisms and dissent, and changed electoral laws to ensure that only those who are deemed loyal to the Chinese Communist Party can run for office. The previously independent legal system—a hallmark distinguishing Hong Kong from the PRC—has since been so compromised that two British judges withdrew from the city's highest courts this past March.

"The United States must continue to draw attention to these abuses against the people of Hong Kong. In a recent letter to President Biden, we urge the Administration to continue raising these concerns at all levels with Chinese interlocutors and to advocate for the release of pro-democracy figures and other political prisoners.

"Going forward, we will continue to work in a bipartisan manner in support of the people of Hong Kong in their struggle for their rights and freedoms."

The full letter can be read here.