Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-3856
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2017-09-27 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Art, artists, authorship
Asia
Books and print media
China
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of the Treasury
Detention of persons
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
Foreign labor
Foreign property
Higher education
Hong Kong
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
News media and reporting
Political movements and philosophies
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Religion
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
United Kingdom
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: 

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
 
of 2017

 
This bill amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Department of State to report to Congress (within 90 days and annually thereafter through 2023) on conditions in Hong Kong that are of U.S. interest. 
 
Such report shall include matters in which Hong Kong is given separate treatment under U.S. laws from that accorded to China. 
 
 The State Department shall certify to Congress annually whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify separate treatment different from that accorded to China in any new laws, agreements, treaties, or arrangements entered into between the United States and Hong Kong. 
 
 The President shall identify persons responsible for: (1) the surveillance, abduction, detention, or forced confessions of certain booksellers and journalists in Hong Kong; and (2) other actions suppressing basic freedoms.
 
The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny U.S. entry to identified individuals and revoke visas or other entry documentation.
 
 Entry, work, or study visa applicants who resided in Hong Kong in 2014 shall not be denied visas on the basis of the applicant's arrest or detention or other adverse government action taken as a result of participation in the nonviolent protest activities related to Hong Kong's electoral process. 
 
 The President shall freeze the U.S.-based assets of identified individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
action_date: 2017-11-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1294)
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Introduced in House