Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, in 1984, before the United Kingdom handed Hong Kong over to China, the Chinese Government promised ``a high degree of autonomy'' for the territory in the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong: providing for an independent executive, legislature, and judiciary; ensuring the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion; prohibiting the central government from interfering into the affairs that Hong Kong administers on its own according to the Basic Law; and pledging a path to universal suffrage. In 1997, when the handover occurred, America was hopeful that the people of Hong Kong would achieve the free, democratic future they deserved. But 2 decades later, we see China's promise of ``one country, two systems'' is not being met. The Chinese have not honored that promise, and the British Government has ignored it. Since 2014's ``Umbrella Revolution,'' the people of Hong Kong have faced a barrage of unjust and harsh restrictions on their freedoms. Hong Kong's pro-Beijing government is slapping democratically elected opposition lawmakers with expensive lawsuits in a backhanded attempt to disqualify them from their seats. Peaceful activists are being rounded up and detained by the hundreds for exercising their right to protest the new government.…”