16 Auguest, 2019
Dear Maggie:
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for the people of Hong Kong and for the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act." It is great to hear from you.
As you may know, the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act" is a product of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which was created by Congress in 2000 and made up of members of the House, the Senate, and the Administration to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China. It is also tasked with submitting an annual report to Congress detailing legislative proposal advancing human rights and the rule of law in China, and this bill is just one of those proposals.
While the administration of Hong Kong was handed over from the British to the Chinese in 1997, the agreement guaranteed that Hong Kong's "capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years" until the year 2047. However, as the recent protests indicate, China is failing to keep that promise. The "Hong Kong Human Right and Democracy Act" would reaffirm America's commitment to Hong Kong's autonomy by requiring the U.S. Secretary of State to certify Hong Kong's autonomy in order to maintain its special treatment and trade status with the U.S., requiring the President to identify those responsible for the abductions of Hong Kong citizens who have spoken out against mainland China, and includes other steps to ensure U.S. interests in Hong Kong are protected.
This bill has been introduced in every Congress since the 113th Congress but has never advanced, though the current situation in Hong Kong is highlighting the need for action. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is urging China to "do the right thing" and "proceed in a way that is not violent." And as you might expect, the discussion of Hong Kong is bleeding over into the tariff and trade talks that are already between China and the U.S. We can call agree that China must keep its promise to Hong Kong. Congress, the Administration, and the world are partnering to ensure exactly that.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share with me. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Rob Woodall
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