U.S. and Hong Kong (1997)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China as it relates to China's position in the international community... (Introduced in House)

HRES 76 IH

105th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 76

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China as it relates to China's position in the international community and encouraging the United States, in conjunction with other members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to work with China to promote the improvement of human rights.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 1997

Mr. Porter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China as it relates to China's position in the international community and encouraging the United States, in conjunction with other members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to work with China to promote the improvement of human rights.

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Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has made certain agreements and guarantees regarding preservation of a high degree of autonomy and basic rights and freedoms in Hong Kong following its reversion to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997, including the commitments contained in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong (the Joint Declaration) and the Basic Law enacted by the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on April 4, 1990 (the Basic Law);

Whereas the National People's Congress, at its March 1997 session, will consider proposals to repeal key provisions of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and proposals to reinstate laws such as the Societies Ordinance and the Public Order Ordinance that seriously restrict and limit civil liberties, passage of which would be in contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which was extended to cover Hong Kong in 1976;

Whereas China, through its hand-picked selection committee, on December 21, 1996, appointed a provisional legislature for Hong Kong though such a body is not mentioned in either the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law, and this provisional legislature has begun preparing legislation prior to Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese sovereignty, while the legitimately elected legislative council of Hong Kong continues to function, thereby creating the possibility of legal conflict and uncertainty;

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Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

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(2) the President and the Secretary of State should--

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(B) urge the Government of the People's Republic of China to fully abide by its commitments to maintain basic human rights and civil rights, an independent judiciary and an elected legislature in Hong Kong after July 1, 1997, and to immediately cease all efforts to repeal provisions of the Bill of Rights Ordinance and reinstate laws which are not in conformance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and

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