Hong Kong Bill on Special Status Heads to House, Senate Votes

(Bloomberg) -- Congressional committees in the House and Senate approved legislation supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, warning China that any crackdown could revoke the city’s special trading status with the U.S.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday advanced legislation that would require annual assessments of whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to justify its unique treatment under U.S. law. The Senate panel approved a bill sponsored by GOP Senator Marco Rubio of Florida a few hours after the House committee passed a companion bill sponsored by Republican Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey.

“It is absolutely essential that we speak out in regards to what’s happening in Hong Kong,” said Senator Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat and another one of the Senate bill’s sponsors.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 would also require the president to report to Congress and impose sanctions on the individuals responsible for “abducting and torturing” human rights activists.

China expressed its objections to the move in a website statement by foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang. China will fight back against any U.S. actions that harm China’s national interest, the ministry said.

Each bill will now head to a floor vote in their respective chambers. The swift advancement of both measures underscores the bipartisan support for the protesters in Hong Kong and concerns about China’s reaction to the movement, which has gained momentum since the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, introduced legislation to allow extraditions to China several months ago.

Lam has since formally withdrawn the extraditions bill but protests continue. Last week, lawmakers heard from several of the protesters and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her support of the bill. Senator Jim Risch, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has said that Senate Majority Mitch McConnell will allow a floor vote on the bill.

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Flatley in Washington at dflatley1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Anna Edgerton, Laurie Asséo

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