A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People's Republic of China would violate the obligations of that government under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 596 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the obligations of that government under the 1984 Sino- British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 21, 2020 Mr. HAWLEY (for himself, Mr. LEE, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. WICKER, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. DAINES, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. ROMNEY, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. BOOZMAN) submitted the following reso- lution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations JUNE 25, 2020 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Hong Kong national security law proposed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China would violate the obliga- tions of that government under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law and calling upon all free nations of the world to stand with the people of Hong Kong. Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China has proposed a new national security law for Hong Kong VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR596.ATS SR596 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 596 ATS that would ban secession, subversion of state power, and foreign interference, as defined by the Government of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas, if the new national security law is passed, the Gov- ernment of the People’s Republic of China is expected to use this law to justify and facilitate an expanded crack- down against peaceful protests and other forms of non- violent protest by the people of Hong Kong; Whereas this proposed law constitutes a significant escalation in the campaign by the Government of the People’s Re- public of China and its proxies in Hong Kong to erase the basic liberties and human rights promised to the peo- ple of Hong Kong under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law; Whereas the announcement by the Government of the Peo- ple’s Republic of China of its intent to pass this new na- tional security law reflects that government’s funda- mental opposition not only to the basic rights and lib- erties of free persons championed by the people of Hong Kong and the United States, but also to upholding its ob- ligations under international law; and Whereas the efforts by the Government of the People’s Re- public of China to silence peaceful protestors in Hong Kong are part and parcel of a broader hegemonic vision that would see the Government of the People’s Republic of China impose its will upon all free people of Asia and beyond: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 1 (1) the Hong Kong national security law pro- 2 posed by the Government of the People’s Republic of 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR596.ATS SR596 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 596 ATS China would violate the legal obligations of that gov- 1 ernment under— 2 (A) the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declara- 3 tion, which guarantees for 50 years the protec- 4 tion of the basic rights and freedoms of the 5 people of Hong Kong, including those of speech, 6 press, assembly, association, travel, movement, 7 correspondence, and strike; and 8 (B) the Hong Kong Basic Law, which re- 9 serves the authority for enacting laws prohib- 10 iting treason, secession, sedition, subversion, 11 and foreign interference to the Government of 12 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; 13 and 14 (2) the United States Government should use 15 all diplomatic means available, including targeted 16 sanctions, to— 17 (A) dissuade the Government of the Peo- 18 ple’s Republic of China from passing the pro- 19 posed Hong Kong national security law; 20 (B) compel the Government of the People’s 21 Republic of China to rescind the proposed Hong 22 Kong national security law, if it is passed; and 23 (C) rally all free nations to stand with the 24 people of Hong Kong against increasingly se- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR596.ATS SR596 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 SRES 596 ATS vere violations by the Government of the Peo- 1 ple’s Republic of China of the rights and lib- 2 erties guaranteed to them under the 1984 Sino- 3 British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong 4 Basic Law. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR596.ATS SR596 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS