Tensions with China: US Congress wants to protect human rights in Hong Kong

For months, there has been mass protests in Hong Kong against the growing influence of China. The government is increasingly harder against the demonstrators. By law, the US Congress wants to protect human rights and democracy in the Chinese Special Administrative Region.

The House of Representatives voted in favor of a bipartisan draft. The law requires economic sanctions if the autonomy of Hong Kong is undermined. It also aims to see if China undermines civil liberties and the rule of law in Hong Kong. It also provides for punitive measures against politicians who have violated Hong Kong's freedoms. Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers had demonstrated on Monday evening to accept the draft.

Rep. Chris Smith said Chinese leaders and Hong Kong Prime Minister Carrie Lam must live up to their promises to protect Hong Kong's autonomy and the rights of its residents. Democrat Ben Ray Lujan spoke of a "strong message". The democracy movement in Hong Kong welcomed the law. Now it has to happen to the US Senate. In the end, US President Donald Trump would still have to sign.

China protests against the law

China has protested sharply. A Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing said "great outrage and determined resistance," official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Hong Kong's government also expressed its regret over the vote by US MEPs and their further decision to suspend the supply of tear gas and police equipment to Hong Kong protesters.

Hong Kong has seen mass demonstrations for months. Initially, the protests were against a planned law that included rendition of suspects to mainland China. Meanwhile, they are generally against the pro-Chinese leadership in Hong Kong and the restriction of democracy.

Carrie Lam interrupts government statement

Prime Minister Carrie Lam had to cancel her annual government statement. Several parliamentarians repeatedly disturbed Lam by shouts and mocking laughter. She then gave up the attempt to make her government statement directly before the Parliament and resorted to a video recording of the speech back. In it stated Lam, in the past four months there had been more than 400 rallies in the financial and economic metropolis.