Latest news with #HongKongJudicialSanctionsAct
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Bill Seeking Sanctions Against Hong Kong Officials
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation requiring the Trump administration to address Hong Kong's dwindling freedoms since its handover from the United Kingdom to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), incoming chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC); Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chair of the CECC; and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act ( The legislation requires the president to review whether 49 Hong Kong officials, including four who were 'The Chinese Communist Party's aggressive repression of dissent and appalling human rights record extend far beyond China's borders. Even American citizens and others lawfully living in our country have found themselves victims of the CCP regime's intimidation and coercion tactics,' Sullivan 'In Hong Kong, the CCP has completely corrupted the local judiciary and is turning it into a tool of intimidation and injustice, contrary to the promises made to the world, including in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. America must stand firmly against the CCP's flagrant violation of the civil rights of the Chinese people and citizens of nations across the globe.' The push for the legislation comes nearly four years since the CCP imposed its so-called Related Stories 5/18/2025 5/18/2025 As of Nov. 1, 2024, 304 had been arrested for national security offenses in Hong Kong, while 176 were charged and at least 167 convicted or awaiting sentencing, the British government stated in a The U.S. Another judge named in the bill, Esther Toh, is Antony Chau, a Hong Kong government prosecutor Also on the bill's list are Hong Kong chief executive John Lee, who was the city's secretary for security when he was 'As Chinese officials continue to undermine the autonomy and freedoms of its peoples, the United States must continue to hold these officials accountable,' Merkley said in a statement. 'Republicans and Democrats are united in sending a clear message that we will not tolerate this brutal oppression, both within China and outside its borders. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government issued a statement condemning the U.S. senators, saying the city government 'despises any so-called 'sanctions' and shall never be intimidated.' The D.C.-based Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation welcomed the senators' effort. 'The U.S. government should implement Magnitsky and other sanctions on these Chinese and Hong Kong officials whom we know are engaging in repression against the people of Hong Kong,' Jonathan Stivers, U.S. director of the CFHK Foundation, said in a Stivers added that the Senate and the House should 'act on this legislation as soon as possible.' A similar bill, named the Hong Kong Sanctions Act ( Separately, the three senators have also introduced a
HKFP
19-05-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong gov't vows to ‘never be intimidated' after US senators call for sanctions on city's judges, prosecutors
The Hong Kong government has lashed out, saying it will 'never be intimidated' following US lawmakers' call for sanctions on the city's judges and prosecutors, whom they accuse of being complicit in human rights violations. The Hong Kong government issued a statement on Saturday in response to US politicians introducing a new bill calling for sanctions on the city's judiciary staff and support for Hongkongers 'facing persecution from the Chinese Communist Party.' According to the statement, 'those US politicians insist on turning a blind eye to all these facts, and even clamour for so-called 'sanctions' against the HKSAR personnel and judges who dutifully safeguard national security.' It added: 'The HKSAR despises any so-called 'sanctions' and shall never be intimidated. It shall continue to resolutely discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security.' Last week, three US senators – Dan Sullivan and John Curtis of the Republican Party, and Jeff Merkley of the Democratic Party – introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act, listing 45 judges and prosecutors whom they said should be sanctioned. The list includes judges presiding over the city's highest-profile national security cases. High Court judges Esther Toh, Susana Maria D'Almada Remedios, Alex Lee, Andrew Chan, and Johnny Chan – on the panel for the 47 democrats case and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai's trial – are named. Also listed are prosecutors involved in those cases, including Anthony Chau, Jonathan Man, and Andy Lo. 'In Hong Kong, the CCP has completely corrupted the local judiciary and is turning it into a tool of intimidation and injustice, contrary to the promises made to the world,' Sullivan said. The bill calls on US President Donald Trump to determine if the judges and prosecutors have violated human rights and to decide whether to impose sanctions under the country's Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, or the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. US lawmakers passed the Democracy Act amid the 2019 protests and unrest in Hong Kong, and the Autonomy Act after Beijing imposed a national security law in the city. 'Reprehensible act' To date, a total of 17 officials have been sanctioned by Washington for acts it said undermined Hong Kong's autonomy in two rounds of sanctions. The first round, in August 2020, included then-chief executive Carrie Lam; then-security chief John Lee; and Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. In March, the US imposed sanctions on six more people, among them Secretary for Justice Paul Lam; Sonny Au, the secretary-general of the national security committee; and police chief Raymond Siu just before he retired. In Saturday's statement, the government said it 'strongly urges the US politicians concerned to discern facts from fallacies, and immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters.' It also defended its rule of law, saying that courts decide cases 'in accordance with the evidence' and are not influenced by the 'professions, political beliefs or backgrounds' of those involved. 'The judicial system of the HKSAR has always been highly regarded by international communities. Any attempt by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the HKSAR by means of political power is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of the HKSAR,' the statement added. In June 2020, Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. In March last year, the city's opposition-free legislature passed a homegrown security law known as Article 23 to target more offences such as treason and theft of state secrets. Foreign governments have criticised the national security laws, while local authorities maintain that they are needed to address 'shortcomings' in the legal system.
