WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2025 – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation welcomes the introduction of the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act (S.1755) in the United States Senate. This companion legislation to the House version, H.R. 733, introduced in January 2025, underscores the strong bipartisan commitment to holding Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors accountable for enabling escalating repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The bill, introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and John Curtis (R-UT), would initiate a mandatory review of 45 individuals for targeted sanctions under existing U.S. laws, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, as well as Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong Normalization. These individuals — officials, judges, and prosecutors at all levels — have weaponized the city’s legal system to punish pro-democracy activists, civil society leaders, journalists, and everyday citizens under the National Security Law and other repressive statutes.
Among the individuals named are the three judges who recently sentenced 45 pro-democracy leaders to prison terms ranging from three to 10 years: Johnny Chan Jong-herng, Andrew Chan Hing-wai, and Alex Lee Wan-tang. Also named is Anthony Chau Tin-hang, the lead prosecutor in many political cases related to the 2019 pro-democracy protests and a frequent denier of defendants’ bail requests, keeping dozens detained for over 1,000 days before conviction.
Since the implementation of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in July 2020, Hong Kong authorities have intensified their assault on civil liberties — jailing pro-democracy activists, expanding authoritarian legislation under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, and extending repression beyond its borders by placing HK$1 million bounties on 19 overseas Hong Kong activists. These developments underscore the urgency of renewed policy action.
This bill marks a critical step toward accountability and deterrence. The CFHK Foundation calls for swift passage in both chambers as the human rights situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate.
Jonathan Stivers, U.S. Director of the CFHK Foundation, said:
“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. We appreciate the strong leadership of Senators Sullivan, Merkley, and Curtis, and call for both the Senate and the House of Representatives to act on this legislation as soon as possible.”
Frances Hui, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the CFHK Foundation, said:
“Hong Kong’s democratic movement has moved from street protests to the courtrooms these past few years, where the government is using lawfare to silence activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens. The role of these judges and prosecutors cannot be ignored. With this legislation, Congress is sending a clear message: the United States will not turn a blind eye to the destruction of Hong Kong’s rule of law. We must stand with the people of Hong Kong and defend the values of freedom and due process.”
Read the full text of the bill here: S.1755
