Press Release
Alarming Arrests of Hong Kong Freedom Leaders…Smith: Arrests of Hong Kong Freedom Leaders 'Egregious,’ Calls on Trump Administration to Complete Mandated ReportThe alarming arrests over the weekend of democracy advocates Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Jimmy Lai and others in Hong Kong and the apparent surrendering of Hong Kong’s home rule to mainland China, has prompted human rights leaders urge Hong Kong’s executive chief to reaffirm Hong Kong’s autonomy and take action to protect the rights of peaceful democracy leaders. “Chief Executive Carrie Lam must immediately clarify whether the Liaison Office of the People’s Republic of China is subject to the Basic Law. I call upon Ms. Lam to protect the fundamental rights of the Hong Kong people and resist any unlawful encroachment by the mainland Chinese government or the Communist Party in the internal affairs of Hong Kong,” said Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the House-passed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Smith serves as ranking member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and for many years was its chairman. He has held more than 60 hearings on the Chinese government’s abuses of the human rights of its own citizens. ### |