Hong Kong: CECC Commissioners Send Letter to Chief Executive Carrie Lam

(Washington D.C.)—U.S. Representative James P. 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), sent a letter yesterday to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam expressing “concern” that proposed amendments to Hong Kong’s extradition law would “negatively impact the relationship between the United States and Hong Kong” and asked that the amendments be “withdrawn from consideration.”  Full text of the letter can be found here. 

The CECC Chairs were joined by a bipartisan group of CECC Commissioners including Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Tom Cotton (R-AK) and Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Brian Mast (R-FL), and Ben McAdams (D-UT). 

Background:  On May, 15, 2019 the CECC held a hearing “Hong Kong’s Future in the Balance: Eroding Autonomy and Challenges to Human Rights.”  Statements by the Chairs, witness testimony, and the hearing video can be found on the CECC website.  On April 4, 2019 the CECC Chairs issued a statement expressing “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.