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| Protesters gather in Hong Kong in this undated photo. (Photo: ChinaAid Stock Image) |
(Washington, D.C—Oct. 16, 2019) The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill supporting Hong Kong protesters on Tuesday.
If passed, the bill will subject U.S. trade with Hong Kong to yearly reviews. It will also provide American lawmakers with the means to sanction officials who work against the city’s freedom and autonomy.
China fired back upon learning of the bill’s advancement, threatening to enact unspecified measures if it passed.
Still, the legislation has support from both political parties in the U.S. Senate, where it is likely to pass. If it does, President Trump must decide whether or not to sign it into law.
The bill comes after months of protests in Hong Kong. The protests began when the city’s government proposed a policy that would allow residents accused of a crime to be sent to China for trial.
China routinely targets activists and those who practice religion, so many Hong Kong locals feared their rights were at risk.
Soon after the protests began, Hong Kong dispatched police. Clashes erupted, and one officer even shot a student in the chest at point-blank range.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam dropped the proposal after months of public outcry, but locals continue to call for her removal.
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