[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 33 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
2d Session
S. J. RES. 33
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.
Whereas according to the April 1, 2004, report by the Department of State
entitled U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act Report, ``The United States has
strong interests in the protection of human rights and the promotion of
democratic institutions throughout the world. The Hong Kong people share
many values and interests with Americans and have worked to make Hong
Kong a model of what can be achieved in a society based on the rule of
law and respect for civil liberties'';
Whereas according to section 103(3) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of
1992 (22 U.S.C. 5713(3)), ``The United States should continue to treat
Hong Kong as a territory which is fully autonomous from the United
Kingdom and, after June 30, 1997, should treat Hong Kong as a territory
which is fully autonomous from the People's Republic of China with
respect to economic and trade matters'';
Whereas the People's Republic of China has frustrated the gradual and orderly
process toward universal suffrage and the democratic election of the
legislature and chief executive in Hong Kong as envisioned by the Basic
Law of the Hong Kong SAR; and
Whereas on April 6, 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress of the People's Republic of China declared itself, as opposed
to the people of Hong Kong, the final arbiter of democratic reform and,
on April 26, 2004, declared that universal suffrage would not apply to
the election of the third Chief Executive in 2007 or to the election of
all members of the fourth Legislative Council in 2008: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
(1) declares that the people of Hong Kong should be free to
determine the pace and scope of constitutional developments;
and
(2) calls upon the President of the United States to--
(A) call upon the People's Republic of China, the
National People's Congress, and any groups appointed by
the Government of the People's Republic of China to
guarantee that revisions of Hong Kong law reflect the
wishes of the people of Hong Kong as expressed through
universal suffrage and a democratically elected
legislature and chief executive;
(B) declare that the lack of movement towards
universal suffrage and a democratically elected
legislature in Hong Kong is contrary to the vision of
democracy set forth in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region and in the Agreement
between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the
People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong
Kong, done at Beijing, December 19, 1984 (the Sino-
British Joint Declaration of 1984); and
(C) call upon the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress to guarantee that the Hong
Kong Government develop and implement a plan and
timetable to achieve universal suffrage and the
democratic election of the legislature and chief
executive of Hong Kong as provided for in the Basic Law
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
promulgated on July 1, 1997.
Passed the Senate June 22, 2004.
Attest:
Secretary.
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. J. RES. 33
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.