Hong Kong: CECC Chairs and Select Committee Leadership Express Opposition to Article 23 Legislation

(Washington)—U.S. Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Chair and Cochair, respectively of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China, released today a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing their reservations about Article 23 legislation and asking the Secretary to “take additional steps to protect American citizens and businesses in Hong Kong” and overseas Hong Kongers who are subject to transnational repression.

The Chairs were joined by the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) in signing the letter.

The letter concludes that the Hong Kong government’s pursuit of Article 23 legislation is part of an “ever-expanding notion of national security [that] will only make Hong Kong less safe for U.S. businesses and citizens living in Hong Kong and urges the Secretary of State to coordinate with allies and business groups in Hong Kong to “clearly register…deep reservations about Article 23 and continued implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.”     

The full letter can be found here. 

Background: The Chairs are the lead sponsors of two bipartisan bills that would give the State Department additional authorities to address efforts by the Hong Kong and PRC governments to demolish the democratic freedoms guaranteed to the Hong Kong people by international treaty and protect overseas Hong Kongers from intimidation and harassment:

The Transnational Repression Policy Act (S. 831 / H.R. 3654), which would give the Administration additional tools to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault U.S. citizens and residents.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act (H.R. 1103 / S. 490), which would give the President authority to strip the immunities and privileges granted to the three Hong Kong government diplomatic outposts in the United States, which reportedly surveil Hong Kong democracy advocates in the United States.