CITY OF VICTORIA: Indian-American Leads Lawmakers To Condemn China’s Curbs On Hong Kong

CITY OF VICTORIA: Led by Indian American
Congressman Ami Bera, a bipartisan group of influential lawmakers on Monday
expressed concern over changes sought to be imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong’s
electoral system.

“We
are deeply concerned about the changes Beijing announced in Hong Kong’s
electoral system. These revisions will only continue to advance Beijing’s ever-tightening
grip on Hong Kongers’ autonomy, basic freedoms and fundamental human
rights,” said a group of lawmakers from both the House of Representatives
and the Senate.

The
effort was led by Indian American Congressman Ami Bera who is the chairman of
the Asia Sub-Committee of Foreign Affairs Committee of the House.

He was
joined by Ed Markey, the chairman of the East Asia Sub-Committee of the
Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Mitt Romney, Ranking Member of
the East Asia Sub-Committee of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee and
Congressman Steve Chabot, Ranking Member of the Asia Sub-Committee on the House
Foreign Affairs Committee.

Other
lawmakers who joined Bera are Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman James
McGovern, co-chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and
Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Chris Smith, co-Ranking Members of the
Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

The joint
statement was issued in response to the Chinese government’s decision to
schedule a March 11 vote in the National People’s Congress that would impose
new restrictions on Hong Kong’s electoral system.

“With
these planned actions, the Chinese Communist Party is doubling its attempts to
impose an authoritarian system on Hong Kong,” the statement said.

“Beijing
is once again violating its binding international commitments under the 1984
Sino-British Joint Declaration and its obligations under Hong Kong’s Basic
Law,” it added.

“Contrary
to recent Chinese government statements, true patriots are not ‘yes-men and
-women’,” the statement said, adding “Beijing’s efforts to stamp out
democratic opposition in Hong Kong only underscores its own insecurities”.

“Congress
will continue to speak with one voice in support of freedom, democracy and
justice for the people of Hong Kong. In the past two years, we passed
legislation giving the executive branch significant new tools to support the
people of Hong Kong as they defend their autonomy and basic freedoms,” the
statement said.

“We
urge the Biden Administration to use those tools, and to work with allies and
partners to develop other mechanisms to support the people of Hong Kong,”
the lawmakers said.