A plan by mainland authorities to overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system was condemned by U.S. lawmakers in a statement released Monday which called on the Biden administration to protect “basic freedoms” in the city.
The new rules, laid out at a National People’s Congress (NPC) meeting Friday, will lower the number of directly elected seats in the Hong Kong Legislative Council and prevent ‘unpatriotic’ lawmakers from holding seats.
“Beijing is once again violating its binding international commitments under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and its obligations under Hong Kong's Basic Law,” the cohort of officials wrote.
“These revisions will not only continue to advance Beijing’s ever tightening grip on Hong Kongers’ autonomy, basic freedoms and fundamental rights.”
Despite international outcry, NPC members are likely to approve the proposed changes later this week, giving China even more political control over Hong Kong as it ramps up enforcement of the controversial national security law passed last summer in the wake of massive citywide protests.
“Beijing’s efforts to stamp out democratic opposition in Hong Kong only [shows] its own insecurities,” the statement continued.
The bipartisan group, including Republican senators Mitt Romney of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida as well as Democratic Representative James McGovern in Massachusetts, called on President Biden to “work with allies and partners to develop other mechanisms to support the people of Hong Kong.”
U.S. government officials already have a range of tools at their disposal under the 2020 Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act to sanction CCP-backed policymakers in the city.
Last year, the Trump administration approved a round of economic sanctions against Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and the new president is likely to continue his predecessor’s tough stance on China.
Protecting the rights and liberties of Hong Kong residents is one of the few policy areas most American politicians regardless of party can agree on.
“As members of Congress, we will continue to speak with one voice in support of freedom, democracy, and justice for the people of Hong Kong,” the lawmakers said.
