- Title: Pelosi, activists decry Hong Kong security law before Congress
- Date: 1st July 2020
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 01, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) WIDE SHOT HEARING OF THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AS SEEN ON A MONITOR IN THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER, NANCY PELOSI, SAYING: "When Beijing announced its intention to pass the so-called National Security Law, so-called, we were concerned. It was frightening. It is nothing short of an all-out effort to negate the rights of the people of Hong Kong in violation of the agreements made under the one-country, two-systems. We were concerned of what it might be and it exceeds even those horrors. The law is a brutal, sweeping crackdown against the people of Hong Kong intended to destroy the freedoms they were promised. Thanks to you, to the committee for holding this hearing which asks the question -- 'is this the end of the one-country, two-systems?' It seems as it is. As I have stated, Beijing's so-called National Security Law passed on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from the U.K. to China signals the death of the one-country, two-systems principle." MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE LISTENING HONG KONG ACTIVIST BRIAN LEUNG AS SEEN ON A TELEVISION MONITOR UNDISCLOSED LOCATION (JULY 01, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) (SOUNDBITE) (English) (Remote Video) HONG KONG ACTIVIST, BRIAN LEUNG, SAYING: "There is no meaningful distinction between the system of Hong Kong and that of China. The legal firewall between two places has been utterly dismantled. The Chinese party state has engulfed our governance system. Our civil society is under full assault and is pervaded by a sense of political fear, self-censorship and legal persecution." WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 01, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) WIDESHOT HEARING OF THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HONG KONG ACTIVIST NATHAN LAW AS SEEN ON A TELEVISION MONITOR UNDISCLOSED LOCATION (JULY 01, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) (SOUNDBITE) (English) (Remote Video) HONG KONG ACTIVIST, NATHAN LAW, SAYING: "Through fear, intimidation and heavy-handed governance, Beijing has turned Hong Kong into just another Chinese city while trying to keep its outer shell. In doing so, it helps to preserve the illusion that the city is still autonomous. The international community must not be confused. Carrie Lam and her entire cabinet are puppets who have no power to make meaningful decisions. The high degree of autonomy once promised is just another blatant lie." WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 01, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE) WIDE SHOT HEARING OF THE U.S. HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
- Embargoed: 15th July 2020 19:03
- Keywords: Brian Leung China Hong Kong House Foreign Affairs Nancy Pelosi Nathan Law protests
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C. AND UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS, UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C. AND UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002CKZBTC7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with several Hong Kong activists, decried on Wednesday (July 1) Beijing's national security law imposed in Hong Kong as a "brutal crackdown" which ends the one-county, two systems model of governance in that city.
"It is nothing short of an all-out effort to negate the rights of the people of Hong Kong in violation of the agreements made under the one-country, two-systems. We were concerned of what it might be and it exceeds even those horrors," Pelosi told a hearing of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
China's parliament adopted the law in response to protests last year triggered by fears that Beijing was stifling the city's freedoms, guaranteed by a "one country, two systems" formula agreed when it returned to Chinese rule.
Several Hong Kong democracy activists testified at the hearing via remote video, including Brian Leung, who famously removed his mask and revealed his identity during the occupation of the parliament chamber.
"The legal firewall between two places has been utterly dismantled. The Chinese party state has engulfed our governance system. Our civil society is under full assault and is pervaded by a sense of political fear, self-censorship and legal persecution," said Leung, who is presently studying in the United States.
The U.S. and its Asian and Western allies have criticised the legislation. Britain said it would stand by its word and offer all those in Hong Kong with British National Overseas status a "bespoke" immigration route. Britain and Canada also updated their travel advice for Hong Kong, saying there was an increased risk of detention.
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