March 27, 2025 – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation applauds the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) for passing Senate Resolution 98, which condemns the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s destruction of Hong Kong’s democracy, rule of law, and civil liberties.
The resolution, authored by SFRC Chairman James Risch (R-ID) and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), affirms bipartisan Congressional support for the people of Hong Kong and draws critical attention to the worsening human rights crisis under Beijing’s authoritarian rule. It calls out the Hong Kong government’s continued political persecution of pro-democracy voices in the city.
The resolution includes provisions focusing on British citizen Jimmy Lai, a 77-year old pro-democracy advocate and entrepreneur, who has faced prolonged prosecution, solitary confinement, and cruel treatment while awaiting trial under the draconian National Security Law; and the “Hong Kong 45” group of political prisoners, who were sentenced in November 2024 to jail terms ranging from four to 10 years for organizing a democratic primary election.
The CFHK Foundation particularly welcomes the resolution’s recognition that:
- The CCP has weaponized both the National Security Law and Hong Kong’s year-old Article 23 legislation to target individuals far beyond its borders – including non-Hong Kong citizens living overseas – by placing bounties on pro-democracy activists in exile and engaging in other forms of transnational repression.
- As detailed in CFHK Foundation research, Hong Kong has become a hub for the transshipment of export-controlled goods and a conduit for sanctions evasion, enabling Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and strengthening authoritarian regimes in North Korea, Iran, and China.
- Hong Kong has become a hub for the transshipment of export-controlled goods and a conduit for sanctions evasion, enabling Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and strengthening authoritarian regimes in North Korea, Iran, and China.
- The once-proud status of Hong Kong as a global business center has been eroded beyond repair due to the systematic dismantling of the regulatory, judicial, and legal institutions that drove its economic success for decades.
- Multilateral institutions must stop pretending there is any meaningful distinction between Hong Kong and mainland China in their procedures and representation and update their voting protocols to reflect this reality.
The CFHK Foundation echoes the Committee’s call for the U.S. government to use all available and appropriate tools – including those authorized under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act – to hold accountable those responsible for the crackdown in Hong Kong, particularly through targeted sanctions. We continue to urge governments, multilateral institutions, and businesses to reassess their engagement with Hong Kong and to stand firmly with the people of Hong Kong as they fight to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.
CFHK Foundation U.S. Director Jonathan Stivers said:
“Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen are to be commended for authoring this bipartisan resolution supporting the people of Hong Kong. The U.S. Senate is now on record condemning repression in Hong Kong and calling for the release of all political prisoners, including Jimmy Lai. It is our expectation that the Trump Administration will soon follow up by holding Chinese and Hong Kong officials accountable for their actions.”
CFHK Foundation Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Frances Hui said:
“The passage of this resolution is a powerful statement of political clarity and solidarity. It recognizes not only the suffering of thousands of political prisoners in Hong Kong and the many Hong Kongers forced into exile since the crackdown, but also the broader consequences of Beijing’s violations of international law. I hope this marks the beginning of a sustained effort by the U.S. to turn words into action – and we urge other democratic governments to do the same to protect those who refuse to be silenced by the CCP.”
