“Hong Kong’s Future in the Balance”: Statements by the Chairs, Witness Testimonies, and Hearing Video

May 16, 2019

(Washington D.C.)—U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), the Chair and Cochair respectively of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), held a hearing on May 15, 2019 to examine U.S.-Hong Kong relations and the steady erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and its guaranteed freedoms through the increasing influence of the Chinese government in Hong Kong affairs. Members of Congress who attended the hearing included Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Brian Mast (R-FL), and Ben McAdams (D-UT).

Hearing witnesses included a delegation of former legislators and pro-democracy advocates from Hong Kong including Martin Lee, Nathan Law, Mak Yin-ting, and Lee Cheuk-yan. The witnesses raised concerns about the amendments proposed by the Hong Kong government to the city’s extradition laws, urging the U.S. government to take action and call on the Hong Kong government to withdraw the bill.   

Statements by the Chairs and Commissioners, witness testimonies, and the hearing video can be found on the CECC’s webpage: https://www.cecc.gov/events/hearings/hong-kong%E2%80%99s-future-in-the-balance-eroding-autonomy-and-challenges-to-human-rights

Background:  On April 4, 2019 the CECC Chairs expressed “serious concerns” about proposed amendments to Hong Kong’s extradition laws saying that approval “will erode Hong Kong’s reputation as a center for commerce governed by the rule of  law.”  Full statement can be found here. https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/hong-kong-serious-concerns-about-amendments-to-extradition-laws