President Donald Trump has received bipartisan praise after he signed into law two human rights bills supporting Hong Kongs autonomy amid widespread protests in the city.<\/p>\n
Trump said late Wednesday that he signed the two bills out of respect for the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the people of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all,\u201d he said in a White House statement.<\/p>\n
Since June, Hongkongers have taken to the streets to protest the Chinese communist regimes perceived encroachment on the citys freedom. The mass protests have rocked the small city but a lack of meaningful dialogue with the local Hong Kong government brought growing fears of a ruthless crackdown from Beijing. Police have arrested around 5,000 protesters and fired more than 10,000 rounds of tear gas across Hong Kong since the protests began.<\/p>\n
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act<\/a> (S.1838) would require the United States to review annually Hong Kongs special trading privileges and pave the way for sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violations in the city. The Senate unanimously passed the bill on Nov. 19 and the House followed on Nov. 20 with a vote of 417 to 1.<\/p>\n Congress also passed S.2710, a bill that would prohibit the export of control equipment to Hong Kong police, who have been accused of using excessively violent and heavy-handed tactics to quell the demonstrations.<\/p>\n Many lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and Hongkongers applauded the presidents decision to sign the bills.<\/p>\n Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a co-author of the Senate bill, congratulated the president, saying that the United States now has \u201cnew and meaningful tools to deter further influence and interference from Beijing into Hong Kongs internal affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing last weekends historic elections in Hong Kong that included record turnout, this new law could not be more timely in showing strong U.S. support for Hongkongers long-cherished freedoms. I look forward to continuing to work with the administration to implement this law,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), another co-author of the Senate bill, said the message the bill sends to the protesters, Hong Kong government, and CCP is that \u201cthe United States is not only watching, but stands with demonstrators as they march for their autonomy, for their democracy, and for their human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have stronger legislative tools to back up our a moral obligation to support Hong Kongs autonomy and hold China accountable for violations of human rights,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a co-sponsors of the Senate bills, released a video after the bill was signed, to highlight police violence in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United States strongly supports the Hong Kong freedom fighters as they resist Communist China,\u201d she said in her Twitter post.<\/p>\n \nBREAKING: The #HKHumanRightsandDemocracyAct<\/a> and my PROTECT Act were just signed into law!<\/p>\n The United States strongly supports the Hong Kong freedom fighters as they resist Communist China. #StandwithHK<\/a> #\u9999\u6e2f<\/a><\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/nQIdDRbJ3f<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) November 27, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), lead sponsor for the House bill, also issued a statement saying that \u201cthe enactment of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act\u2014which was expected and greatly welcomed\u2014makes it abundantly clear that the Trump Administration, the United States Congress, and the American people stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cXi Jin[p]ing should understand that the US is not kidding about human rights. Beating, torturing and jailing of democracy activists is wrong and this historic legislation lets China know that respecting fundamental human rights is paramount.<\/p>\n \u201cTragically, under President Xi Jinping, human rights abuse throughout China has significantly worsened including the pervasive use of torture, religious persecution, human trafficking and genocide against Muslim Uighurs. We have always believed that every person in China deserves better than the brutality so many endure and the systematic violations of their universally recognized human rights,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also issued a statement saying that Congress has sent an unmistakable message \u201cthat the United States stands in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, and that we fully support their fight for their freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDemocrats and Republicans have long stood united in the fight for freedoms in China, whether for the Tibetan community, the Uyghur community, the people of Hong Kong or the many brave journalists, human rights lawyers, Christians and democracy activists on the mainland. If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out elsewhere,\u201d Pelosi said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was pleased to see the president sign the bill into law, adding that the law makes it abundantly clear to Hongkongers, the international community, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that the American people support the people of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is an important step forward in holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its erosion of Hong Kongs autonomy and its repression of fundamental human rights,\u201d Risch said. \u201cThis law is the product of a true bipartisan, bicameral effort, and I am gratified that we came together with one voice to tell the people of Hong Kong that the United States stands with them.\u201d<\/p>\n The committees ranking member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) also shared similar sentiments, saying that the signing of the bills sends a clear and unequivocal message to the people of Hong Kong that \u201cWe are with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith the world standing witness to history as the people of Hong Kong risk it all in pursuit of their legitimate aspirations for autonomy and against the erosion of democracy, I am incredibly proud to be able to grant them a powerful new tool with this important law,\u201d Menendez said. \u201cThe vibrancy of the people of Hong Kong, especially the young people and the rising generation of leaders, is incredibly inspirational. I look forward to seeing the impact this law will have in boosting Hongkongers yearning for democracy and self-governance.\u201d<\/p>\n Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was grateful to the president for signing the bipartisan bills that \u201cstand up for the brave people of Hong Kong and hold Beijing accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n \nGrateful to @POTUS<\/a> for signing our bipartisan legislation to stand up for the brave people of Hong Kong and hold Beijing accountable. The United States of America stands with Hong Kong.<\/p>\n \u2014 Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) November 28, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Similarly, Rep. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said it was excellent to see Trump sign the bill. He said, \u201cI was proud to fight for this important bill & will continue to stand with dissidents struggling for freedom in #HongKong.\u201d<\/p>\n \nExcellent to see @realDonaldTrump<\/a> #StandWithHongKong<\/a> & sign the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which includes my bill calling for reevaluating privileges for #HongKong<\/a> in light of encroachments on HKs autonomy by the Chinese Communist Party.pic.twitter.com\/CVGS3QokVd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 27, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley thanked Trump for signing the bills.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to @realDonaldTrump and members of Congress for standing with the people of Hong Kong!\u201d she wrote on Twitter.<\/p>\n \nThank you to @realDonaldTrump<\/a> and members of Congress for standing with the people of Hong Kong! https:\/\/t.co\/tEuJ925LDa<\/a><\/p>\nResponses<\/h2>\n