A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People's Republic of China would violate the obligations of that government under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong.

Bill: 116-sres-596
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2020-05-21
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

China

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Espionage and treason

Hong Kong

Human rights

International organizations and cooperation

Protest and dissent

Sanctions

Subversive activities

Travel and tourism
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (text: 05/21/2020 CR S2606-2607)

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates the Hong Kong national security law proposed by China as a violation of China's international obligations. The resolution calls on the United States to use all diplomatic means available to dissuade China from passing the law and rally free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong. </p>

action_date: 2020-06-25
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates the Hong Kong national security law proposed by China as a violation of China's international obligations. The resolution calls on the United States to use all diplomatic means available to dissuade China from passing the law and rally free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong. </p>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 596 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2020 Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Lee , Mr. Cotton , Mrs. Blackburn , Ms. McSally , Mr. Peters , Mr. Wicker , Mrs. Loeffler , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Inhofe , and Mr. Daines ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the obligations of that government under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong.

Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China has proposed a new national security law for Hong Kong that would ban secession, subversion of state power, and foreign interference, as defined by the Government of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas, if the new national security law is passed, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is expected to use this law to justify and facilitate an expanded crackdown against peaceful protests and other forms of nonviolent protest by the people of Hong Kong; Whereas this proposed law constitutes a significant escalation in the campaign by the Government of the People’s Republic of China and its proxies in Hong Kong to erase the basic liberties and human rights promised to the people of Hong Kong under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law; Whereas the announcement by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of its intent to pass this new national security law reflects that government’s fundamental opposition not only to the basic rights and liberties of free persons championed by the people of Hong Kong and the United States, but also to upholding its obligations under international law; and Whereas the efforts by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to silence peaceful protestors in Hong Kong are part and parcel of a broader hegemonic vision that would see the Government of the People’s Republic of China impose its will upon all free people of Asia and beyond: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the legal obligations of that government under— (A) the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guarantees for 50 years the protection of the basic rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, including those of speech, press, assembly, association, travel, movement, correspondence, and strike; and (B) the Hong Kong Basic Law, which reserves the authority for enacting laws prohibiting treason, secession, sedition, subversion, and foreign interference to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and (2) the United States Government should use all diplomatic means available, including targeted sanctions, to— (A) dissuade the Government of the People’s Republic of China from passing the proposed Hong Kong national security law; (B) compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to rescind the proposed Hong Kong national security law, if it is passed; and (C) rally all free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong against increasingly severe violations by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of the rights and liberties guaranteed to them under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law.

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 596 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2020 Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Lee , Mr. Cotton , Mrs. Blackburn , Ms. McSally , Mr. Peters , Mr. Wicker , Mrs. Loeffler , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Daines , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Romney , Mr. Braun , Mr. Merkley , and Mr. Boozman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations June 25, 2020 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the obligations of that government under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong.

Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China has proposed a new national security law for Hong Kong that would ban secession, subversion of state power, and foreign interference, as defined by the Government of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas, if the new national security law is passed, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is expected to use this law to justify and facilitate an expanded crackdown against peaceful protests and other forms of nonviolent protest by the people of Hong Kong; Whereas this proposed law constitutes a significant escalation in the campaign by the Government of the People’s Republic of China and its proxies in Hong Kong to erase the basic liberties and human rights promised to the people of Hong Kong under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law; Whereas the announcement by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of its intent to pass this new national security law reflects that government’s fundamental opposition not only to the basic rights and liberties of free persons championed by the people of Hong Kong and the United States, but also to upholding its obligations under international law; and Whereas the efforts by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to silence peaceful protestors in Hong Kong are part and parcel of a broader hegemonic vision that would see the Government of the People’s Republic of China impose its will upon all free people of Asia and beyond: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the legal obligations of that government under— (A) the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guarantees for 50 years the protection of the basic rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, including those of speech, press, assembly, association, travel, movement, correspondence, and strike; and (B) the Hong Kong Basic Law, which reserves the authority for enacting laws prohibiting treason, secession, sedition, subversion, and foreign interference to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and (2) the United States Government should use all diplomatic means available, including targeted sanctions, to— (A) dissuade the Government of the People’s Republic of China from passing the proposed Hong Kong national security law; (B) compel the Government of the People’s Republic of China to rescind the proposed Hong Kong national security law, if it is passed; and (C) rally all free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong against increasingly severe violations by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of the rights and liberties guaranteed to them under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law.