News: US Hong Kong Autonomy Act on Fast Track

On June 4, the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will host a hearing: Crisis in Hong Kong: A Review of U.S. Policy Tools.

For the first time the peaceful candlelit Tiananmen vigil in Hong Kong has been banned. Instead of organising the vigil, Lee Cheuk-yan will be testifying at the hearing. This is a hearing for Senator Pat Toomey’s “Hong Kong Autonomy Act”. Bill S.3798. There are already over 7 co-sponsors even though it was introduced only weeks ago.

“The sadness is that, once the national security law is passed, this vigil may never be legal again,' Lee warned. 

Speaking at a Webinar hosted by Hong Kong Watch and Victims of Communism on June 3, Rep. Ted Yoho, a sponsor of the House version of the bill, told audiences that the “Hong Kong Autonomy Act” will be passed very rapidly in the Congress.

The Act will impose mandatory sanctions on entities that violate China’s obligations to Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. The legislation will also impose mandatory secondary sanctions on banks that do business with the entities in violation of the Basic Law. This bill will likely pass the committee and move on to the next stage.

Watch the hearing LIVE on June 4 at 11am EST.

https://www.banking.senate.gov/hearings/crisis-in-hong-kong-a-review-of-us-policy-tools