The authors of the bill said it was aimed at protecting human rights in Hong Kong and exerting pressure on China in order to maintain the special status of this territory.
US senators Chris Van Hollen and Patrick Tumi have drafted a bill imposing sanctions against Chinese officials and organizations monitoring compliance with national security bills in Hong Kong, as well as penalizing banks that do business with these organizations.
“The communist regime in Beijing would like to destroy Hong Kong’s autonomy and the rights of its people. The bill from two parties will impose severe sanctions on those who undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy or contribute to the violation of the fundamental freedoms and rights enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong, ” said Tumi in a statement on the Senate’s website.
In addition, Van Hollen recalled the protests in Hong Kong.
“Despite China’s brutal repression and repeated attempts to undermine Hong Kong’s political freedoms, these protests continue. Today, China went even further by introducing new laws at its discretion in order to criminalize political dissent. The bill will impose severe sanctions on those working to strip Hong Kong of its autonomy. I urge the Senate to immediately pass this bill. We cannot lose time, ” said Van Hollen.