Washington (November 20, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the East Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed the United States Senate by unanimous consent. Senator Markey was an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which would help hold Chinese government officials accountable for actions that undermine freedoms in Hong Kong, including through financial sanctions, as well as support the autonomy of the special administrative region.

“Senate passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act sends a strong signal to the governments of Hong Kong and China that we stand with those in Hong Kong pushing for their fundamental rights and freedoms,” said Senator Markey. “We now need to work with our House colleagues to develop a final bill, so we can send this bipartisan legislation to President Trump’s desk. The United States can and must be on the right side of history.

“We stand with Hongkongers in their call for freedom. We must push back on authoritarianism there, as well as elsewhere around the globe. The United States should tell the world that we resolutely stand for democratic rule and fundamental freedoms everywhere.”

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