Robust Hong Kong recommendations in new USCC report
The United States-China Economy and Security Review Commission today published a robust report which called for Congress to revoke the US-Hong Kong Policy Act if the People's Liberation Army or the People's Armed Police engaged in an armed intervention in Hong Kong.
The report provides an in-depth account of the protest movement, and issues a range of recommendations. These included that:
Congress amend the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the U.S. Department of State to develop a series of specific benchmarks for measuring Hong Kong’s maintenance of a “high degree of autonomy” from Beijing. Such benchmarks should employ both qualitative and quantitative measurements to evaluate the state of Hong Kong’s autonomy in the State Department’s annual Hong Kong Policy Act Report.
Congress enact legislation stating that all provisions and the special status of Hong Kong included in the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 will be suspended in the event that China’s government deploys People’s Liberation Army or People’s Armed Police forces to engage in armed intervention in Hong Kong.
Congress enact legislation directing the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security to extend export control measures currently in place for mainland China to subsidiaries of Chinese companies established or operating in Hong Kong.
Congress hold hearings examining technologies subject to export controls for mainland China, but not controlled for Hong Kong. These hearings should request that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong assess the effectiveness of current export controls in preventing unauthorized transshipment to the Mainland or other destinations.
Commenting on the publication of the report, Johnny Patterson, Director of Hong Kong Watch said:
"This new report shows that the actions of the Hong Kong government and their counterparts in Beijing could have serious consequences for Hong Kong's international reputation and special status. USCC are warning that a draconian crackdown could result in Hong Kong no longer being considered autonomous and distinct from the mainland.
This report provides yet another reason that deescalation and dialogue are the way forward. The Hong Kong government should begin by promising an independent inquiry into police brutality."