Senators to propose amendment to China legislation to include Hong Kong Safe Harbor provisions

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing an amendment to the China legislative package currently being debated on the Senate Floor. The amendment seeks to add a provision to the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act to ensure Hong Kongers who peacefully protested Beijing’s corrupt justice system and have a well-founded fear of persecution are eligible for Priority 2 Refugee status. The amendment stems from the senators’ Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, stand-alone legislation that was introduced earlier in the year.

We welcome this important step towards providing safe haven to Hong Kongers. This was a key recommendation in Hong Kong Watch’s recent briefing on the Strategic Competition Act.

Read our briefing here.

You can read the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Press Release here.