27 June 2003

(H.R. 277 calls on China to withdraw plans for Article 23) (1400)

House of Representatives approved by a 426-1 margin a resolution June 26 that calls on the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to withdraw their proposal implementing Article 23 of the Basic Law governing Hong Kong because it would reduce the basic human freedoms of the territory's residents.

House Resolution 277 (H. Res. 277) goes on to urge that any revisions of Hong Kong's laws be handled by a legislature elected by universal suffrage there.

H. Res. 277 also calls for immediate elections for positions on the Legislative Council of Hong Kong "according to rules approved by the Hong Kong people through an election-law convention, referendum, or both."

The resolution also urges Beijing to "fully respect the autonomy and independence" of Hong Kong's chief executive, civil service, judiciary, police force and its Independent Commission Against Corruption.

China has scheduled Hong Kong's legislative body to consider the Article 23 laws July 9, according to the resolution's authors.

Representative Christopher Cox (Republican of California) introduced H. Res. 277 June 16. The resolution has 28 co-sponsors, including Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California), the ranking minority member of the House International Relations Committee and the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.