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Hawley Pushes to Sanction Chinese Officials, Businesses That Support Hong Kong Crackdown

Josh Hawley
Carolina Hidalgo
/
St. Louis Public Radio

US Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has introduced a bill condemning China for its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.  

The bill, called the Hong Kong Be Water Act, also calls for new sanctions against Chinese government officials and the freezing of assets belonging to Chinese citizens and state-owned businesses that have contributed to the crackdown on Hong Kong. 

“During my recent visit to Hong Kong I was alarmed by how quickly the situation has deteriorated. Protesters told me it was important to ‘be water’ – meaning, move quickly and be fluid when confronted by police,” Hawley is quoted as saying in a press release from his office.

According to the Associated Press, the protests have hurt Hong Kong’s economy as tourists avoid the tumult, nudging Hong Kong ever closer to recession.

Protests began peacefully in mass numbers in June but evolved to include more violent exchanges between police and protesters as the weeks went on.  Protesters feel their civil liberties are slipping away to the demands of mainland China.

Hong Kong is part of China, but it has long enjoyed unique civil liberties not allowed on the mainland due to the fact that it was administered by Britain until 1997 as a former colony. 

Hawley has become a vocal critic of China's crackdown on Hong Kong in recent weeks, urging the NBA and corporations to prioritize democratic values in their interactions with China. 

You can see a summary of the bill here and read the full text by clicking here. Senators Rick Scott of Florida and John Cornyn of Texas are Hawley's co-sponsors on the bill.