Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed their appreciation for the resolution adopted by the Committee on May 3.
Risch stated that the Hong Kong government must stop its false and politically-motivated charges against Hongkongers such as Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Cardinal Zen. Risch believed the resolution would reaffirm the commitment of the United States to hold the Beijing and the Hong Kong governments accountable for abusing their power, “All wrongfully accused defendants should be released immediately.”
Menendez stated that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) not only abandoned “one country, two systems” and violently suppressed peaceful demonstrations, but it also made politically-motivated accusations against Hongkongers such as Jimmy Lai.
Menendez said the Chinese government has destroyed Hong Kong’s autonomy and eliminated Hongkongers’ trust in the judicial system. He pointed out that the elements once promised to Hong Kong “set Hong Kong apart in the eyes of the international community.”
“In the face of such repression, we cannot be silent. As our resolution moves next to the Senate Floor, we affirm our commitment to stand with Hong Kongers and continue to amplify their brave calls for basic respect for free speech, personal safety, and democratic and human rights,” Menendez added.
The resolution, passed by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, includes the United States’ strong condemnation of Beijing for the Hong Kong National Security Law and related human rights abuses. It supports Hongkongers’ fight to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Additionally, the Committee chastised the CCP for putting forward politically-motivated prosecutions against Hongkongers.
The Foreign Relations Committee urged the U.S. government to use all available tools to respond to the regime’s actions against Hong Kong.
The resolution also encouraged the United States and other governments to press multilateral organizations to stop granting Hong Kong voting rights separate from China.
More than 30 senators, alongside Jim Risch and Bob Menendez from the U.S. Senate, jointly supported the resolution for Hong Kong and Hongkongers.
The Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed its condemnation and opposition in response to the resolution made by the United States Foreign Relations Committee.
