RFA
12 Sep 2019, 04:12 GMT+10
U.S. Senators have called on the Trump administration to review export controls to prevent China from using Hong Kong to acquire sensitive technology, while other lawmakers are touting legislation that would alter America's special treatment of the former British colony.
Bipartisan lawmakers, including Jim Risch and Bob Menendez, the Republican chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mike Crapo and Sherrod Brown, the chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, called for a review of export controls in a letter Tuesday to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"We believe it is critical that the United States take appropriate measures to ensure China does not abuse Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law to steal or otherwise acquire critical or sensitive U.S. equipment and technologies in support of its strategic objectives or to infringe on the rights of people in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and elsewhere," said the letter, which was signed by other senior senators from both parties.
The Senators also voiced concerns over Hong Kong police heavy use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters that have rallied in the city since June, arguing for a suspension of U.S. licenses for the exports of crowd control equipment to Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.
"In the last several weeks of protests, Hong Kong police have used tear gas extensively to disperse protesters. They have also used rubber bullets (including allegedly at close range) and beat protesters with batons, inconsistent with acceptable norms of treatment of civilians by law enforcement," the senators wrote.
Protests that erupted in June in Hong Kong against plans by the city's government to allow extradition to mainland China have grown into a broader movement, even after the city's chief executive Carrie Lam pledged to scrap the plan.
The protesters five key demands are: the formal withdrawal of planned amendments to extradition laws; an amnesty for arrested protesters; an end to the description of protesters as rioters; an independent inquiry into police abuse of power; and fully democratic elections.
Writing in The Financial Times on Tuesday, Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, noted Lam had withdrawn the bill as "first direct concession to the protesters" but refused to meet other demands.
"Moreover, Beijing views the protests as a national security issue. And it has the final say over how the Hong Kong government responds. More repressive action is likely if a softer response fails. Removing the bill could simply be a bait and switch," wrote McCarthy.
He pointed to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a bill introduced in June by Marco Rubio and Chris Smith, co-chairmen of Congressional Executive Commission on China, saying the measure "is supported by many of the protesters in the territory itself."
The bill "would require the U.S. government to examine whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify its special treatment," said McCarthy.
The measure would revise current U.S. policy since Britain handed the city to China in 1997 which treats Hong Kong separately from the rest of China in trade, investment, commerce, and immigration - based on Beijing's pledge to give the territory a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" model.
"As Beijing has expanded its influence over the city, the respect for private property rights and freedom of the press on which that special relationship depends, have been jeopardized," wrote McCarthy.
The act is the subject of a letter-writing campaign by Hong Kong-based activists and supporters around the world urging U.S. lawmakers to swiftly pass the legislation, which also provides for sanctions against officials deemed responsible for rights abuses in Hong Kong.
"Beijing has violated these solemn commitments by eroding Hong Kong's autonomy and rule of law since the 1997 handover, especially in recent years," said the activists' appeal for signatures for a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders.
"Over the same period, the Beijing-appointed Hong Kong government has proven unable or unwilling to safeguard Hong Kong's autonomy," read the appeal, which received 6,900 signatures as of Wednesday.
Copyright © 1998-2018, RFA. Published with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of China National News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.
More InformationPARIS, France: Richemont, the owner of luxury brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, posted a stronger-than-expected seven percent...
TOKYO, Japan: Japan's economy contracted for the first time in a year, shrinking at a faster pace than expected in the first quarter...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Parts of the U.S. and Canada may not have enough electricity this summer if hot weather causes more people to use...
CORAOPOLIS, Pennsylvania: Dick's Sporting Goods is set to acquire Foot Locker in a US$2.4 billion deal, marking the second major footwear...
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas: Walmart shoppers are bracing for price hikes as the world's largest retailer prepares to pass on the impact...
CHICAGO, Illinois: U.S. cattle farmers have either started rebuilding their herds or are close to it, according to Tyson Foods CEO...
TOKYO, Japan: Japan's economy contracted for the first time in a year, shrinking at a faster pace than expected in the first quarter...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden plans to propose that the European Union join the Pacific Rim trading bloc, the CPTPP, aiming to create the...
SHENZHEN, China: China's passenger car sales climbed for the third consecutive month in April, increasing 14.8 percent from a year...
By Vivek Prabhakar Singh Diu (Daman and Diu) [India], May 20 (ANI): Former India cricketer and 2007 T20 World Cup hero Joginder...
The Jiu Tian has been designed to deploy up to 100 AI-guided UAVs during high-altitude missions ...
The Jiu Tian has been designed to deploy up to 100 AI-guided UAVs during high-altitude missions China is preparing to launch what...