In-Depth: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced this bill to protect Hong Kong’s autonomy, democracy, and human rights from China’s repression:

“As the people of Hong Kong stand up in defense of their long-cherished autonomy and freedoms, I want them to know that the United States and the free world support them. Beijing continues to erode the autonomy that it had promised to Hong Kong in a legally-binding 1984 international treaty with Britain and under Hong Kong’s Basic Law. I urge Congress to pass this bill and send it to the President for enactment so the United States and partner nations can hold China fully accountable for its ongoing efforts to undermine Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy.”

Lead Democratic cosponsor Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) added:

“For months now the world has witnessed the bravery of tens of thousands of pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong whose quest for autonomy and democracy has been beaten back with brutal force. Our bill sends a strong message that Congress and the people of the United States stand in solidarity with them. The United States cannot stand idly by as China tramples on the basic human and civil rights of the people of Hong Kong and spreads disinformation in an attempt to discredit and silence their voices. Our bill demonstrates the Congress’ work across party lines to ensure robust affirmation of Hong Kong’s autonomy and to make clear that there must be consequences those who seek to further undermine it.”

This legislation has the support of 42 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, including 21 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and one Independent — Sen. Angus King (I-ME).

A similar version of this bill, which was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and has the support of 47 bipartisan cosponsors, passed the House on a voice vote in June 2019. The House also passed bills to recognize U.S. support of the Hong Kong protesters’ key demands and block exports of crowd control items (like tear gas) for use by the Hong Kong Police.

The Chinese government hit back at the passage of those bills through state-owned media, calling them “arrogant and dangerous” activity that is “inescapably related to the overt or covert support from the U.S” to “anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong” and demonstrative of America’s “sinister intentions to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and contain China’s development.” 

Of Note: Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom until it became a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China on June 30, 1997. The Chinese and British governments agreed in their Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong that Hong Kong would continue to practice a democratic, capitalist system of government and law for at least 50 years after being reunified with socialist China. It has never been publicly stated what will happen to Hong Kong’s governance in 2047 (Macau, a similarly-governed former Portuguese colony, will be in the same situation in in 2049).

China's perceived  interference in Hong Kong's affairs have raised questions over whether the communist regime was abiding by the terms of the "one country, two systems" policy. A wave of protests swept Hong Kong recently after its pro-mainland chief executive Carrie Lam proposed a bill to allow extradition of people from Hong Kong to face trial in mainland China. After Lam announced she would postpone consideration of the bill, two million of Hong Kong’s seven million residents took to the streets, with many demanding the bill’s formal withdrawal and Lam’s resignation. Lam said the bill wouldn’t be reintroduced during her time in office if public outcry persists and initially stopped short of withdrawing the bill. Protesters’ demands broadened into five key demands:

• Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill that originally sparked the protests;
  
• Universal suffrage in local Hong Kong elections;
  
• An investigation into the Hong Kong Police’s excessive use of force against demonstrators;
  
• Release of those who have been arrested during the protests; and
  
• Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s resignation.

Eventually, Lam relented and formally withdrew the bill, but since then clashes between protesters and the Hong Kong Police have become increasingly violent, heightening already present concerns that the Chinese military (the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)) will move in from the mainland to violently repress the protests like it did in Tiananmen Square.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) Press Release
  
• South China Morning Post
  
• The Washington Post
  
• Countable