▶ 0:25:07>> the hearing will come to order. As first mode of business, if you display, disrupt the proceedings of the committee, you will be arrested and banned for 12 months from this committee. I don't know who picked 12 months, but that sounds appropriate. Second, a note that the full title of this subcommittee is western hemisphere transcontinental crime civilian security democracy human rights and global women's issues.
▶ 0:25:38While the subcommittee's focus is on the western hemisphere, we have jurisdiction over global health rights and democracy. Ranking member kane and I will be holding hearings on the topic of global human rights and markers these such as this. Five years ago, the chinese communist party imposed a so-called national security law on hong kong.
▶ 0:26:01An act that marked the end of one country, to systems, and culminated in the for -- full-scale dismantling of hong kong's freedoms, rule of law, and traditional independence. Last year, hong kong doubled down on its repression and enacted the article 23 law, a sweeping expansion of the national security law that introduces dangerously vague offenses like external interference and state secrets punishable by life in prison.
▶ 0:26:30This hearing is not just about an anniversary, it is about the people whose lives have been reshaped by the loss of liberty and with their story sends to the rest of the world. We meet to reaffirm a bipartisan truth, human rights did not end with the reach of the ccp begins. The U.S. has a moral obligation to stand firmly with those in hong kong whose voices have been silenced, whose rights have been stripped, and whose future have been thrown into uncertainty by the chinese communist party.
▶ 0:27:00In the years since 2020, I watched this -- the courageous hong kongers arrested, exiled, and exiled. Like jimmy lai, who spent the last four and a half years in solitary confinement. Authorities are so threatened by his image that the last photo of him taken two years ago by an ap photographer led to that photographer's expulsion from hong kong.
▶ 0:27:30Guards have used umbrellas, tarps, and even boarded up windows to keep world from seeing him. I watched as judges once seen as guardians of an impartial legal system become enforcers of teachings repression. What was once an imperial legal system is now used as a political tool, twisting the lawn not just to protect rights, but to erase them.
▶ 0:27:53That is way introduced the hong kong sanctions act in the house to push for sanctions on those in the judicial -- judicial system responsible for the deterioration of freedom. As if to prove my point, hong kong prosecutors responded to the bill by pushing a warrant for my arrest in hong kong. I'm proud to have joined with senator sullivan and my fellow subcommittee members and we are introducing this bill in the senate.
▶ 0:28:18In the face of this I have a message for those who believe threats and arrest warrants from a thousand miles away will intimidate us into silence. They won't. We will not be silenced. The louder the ccp tries to shut us down, the firmer our resolve becomes to defend freedom in hong kong and anywhere it is under seizure. Years ago I spent time in hong kong and saw firsthand the city of london -- alive with enterprise and freedom.
▶ 0:28:45Now instead of a beacon of liberty, hong kong has become a key node in a global network since russia and other -- that assists russia and under the other adversaries. To crack down on them, I've introduced the stop ccp money laundering act. The struggle for democracy and human rights in hong kong is not over and this subcommittee will continue to shine a spotlight on the abuses and advocate for accountability and action.
▶ 0:29:16With that, I recognize the distinguished ranking member, my honor to serve with you senator kaine. >> thank you to the great witnesses and all attending as the chairman manchin. This subcommittee has one of the longest titles of any subcommittee in the senate. 15 words. Maybe somebody can beat us.
▶ 0:29:35It is important to note while the regional focus of this subcommittee is the western hemisphere, the foreign relations subcommittees have subject matter jurisdiction's. It is good this jurisdiction focuses on human rights and other important issues. The chair and I have agreed while the majority of our hearings will likely be within the hemisphere, we will do some global hearings like this one on important human rights issues which are important in the western hemisphere as well.
▶ 0:30:05As we begin, I will address one topic at the beginning that ties into the hearing. It is important for constituents because it is home to thousands of dedicated servants who work at the state department and agencies.
▶ 0:30:22The riffs in recent weeks have really focused on efforts to dismantle the bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor at state read I'm not sure our adversaries have vigorous human rights portfolios where they think about human rights around the world and influence them in a positive direction, I'm not sure the ministries of foreign affairs focus so much on these affairs as we do. It has been a hallmark of this committee that this has been a priority across administrations in both parties.
▶ 0:30:54To the state department employees who's moreale is low and you seen riffs notices, I really admire your devotion to public service, I visited with you all over the globe. I commend you for wanting to make the world a safer place and standing up for human rights values. Can proclaim them even though we need to be humble about our efforts and they need to do more at home and abroad. Whether through political means, regressive grievances, please stay engaged.
▶ 0:31:26It is directly relevant to our hearing today. I would like to introduce Mr. chair, an article from june 6, 2025, the washington post, chinese propaganda surges as the U.S. defines radio free asia. If I could ask that to be entered into the record. The proposed 2026 fiscal year budget reposes to take 82% of the funding out of our global media efforts.
▶ 0:31:52We need to fight disinformation and the information space, we are not only laying people off, we are hobbling those efforts. I don't think we can safely assume we can take the state department's pro democracy efforts and send them within the regionals and have the priority be what they need to be. I believe the rescissions package we passed will do a digital -- additional damage.
▶ 0:32:23It is important for the U.S. with the humility about our own imperfections to continue to stand up for people around the world under the thumb of authoritarians and dictators. This is a really timely hearing and we will hear from witnesses about their assessment of where democratic values and human rights stand in hong kong as the chairs said five years after the national security law.
▶ 0:32:45The prc imposed this law five years ago on hong kong to clampdown on civil society following large-scale protests against a bill, allowing the extradition of fugitives to mainland china, which many in hong kong viewed as directly in contradiction with commitments the prc had made, with respect to the status of hong kong and those living there.
▶ 0:33:09Some of the drastic impacts will have a chilling effect on activists, political opposition groups, dissidents, and other civil society stakeholders. Let me give a couple of quick examples. Hong kong national security police arrested the father and brother of an activist for allegedly dealing with her finances. This is the first use of the city security law to deal with the relatives of activists who had to flee hong kong in fear of retaliation.
▶ 0:33:40Many activists have bounties for their capture based on accusations about their human rights work being driven by collusion with foreign actors as if people who live in hong kong cannot have their own desire for human rights. Why would human rights have to be something that could only be ginned up by collusion with foreign actors rather than something that lives within the heart of freedom loving people anywhere in the world?
▶ 0:34:11Let me be clear -- I also want to mention jimmy lai, still in prison, described by amnesty international as a prisoner of conscience. Protesting should not be a crime. Demanding to live in a free and democratic society should not be a crime. Speaking against authoritarianism should not be a crime. I look forward to hearing from all about their experience being unjustly persecuted for wanting to live in a democratic society.
▶ 0:34:37The assessment of where policy has had success or could have more success, how congress can play a role in fostering democracy and respect for human rights. The shared values of democracy, freedom of its prescient, rule of law, should remain at the core of our foreign policy. The chairman of the subcommittee believes in that and I do as well per let me turn it over to the chair to introduce the witnesses and get the hearing underway. The hearing still has not started, we may be able to do another hearing.
▶ 0:35:09>> thank you, senator kaine. It is an honor to do this work with you. Appreciate your reminder when we first met that the jurisdiction of the committee was human rights and far broader than the western hemisphere. I jumped into this quickly I did not have a chance to welcome our witnesses. This is a very impressive group of witnesses. I'm pleased to have every single one of you here today. We will start with olivia.
▶ 0:35:35-- olivia enos, a senior fellow at the hudson institute. She writes about human rights. She's also a professor at georgetown university and contributor at forbes. She worked at washington -- as washington's director of the committee for freedom and hong kong foundation.
▶ 0:35:53And before that as a city near policy analyst for asian studies at the heritage foundation where she wrote about international human rights issues including human trafficking, transnational crime, religious freedom, and democratic freedoms, among other social issues in china, north korea, burma, and other parts of asia. She received her ma in asian studies at georgetown university and ba in government from patrick henry college. We just jumped over assuming you know how to work the buttons.
▶ 0:36:24You each have five minutes. Please begin. >> chairman curtis, ranking member kaine and other members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify today. Since 2020, freedom and hong kong declined precipitously. The impacts of this decline affect not only a fundamental human rights of hong kong verse, but also the national and economic security of the U.S. and the world. Hong kong was once a bashed end of liberty in asia.
▶ 0:36:53But since 2019, the special administrative region has taken just shy of 2000 political prisoners, including well-known figures like jimmy lai. It has shuttered pro-democracy press like apple daily and stand news, and engages in transnational repression through the issues of bounties on overseas pro-democracy advocates, including joey siu, who is testifying today.
▶ 0:37:26And 17 other hong kong verse in the U.S., united kingdom, and australia. Hong kong's near overnight transformation is a result of the passage of the national security law, which created four new political crimes including succession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign external forces.
▶ 0:37:43The nsl was compounded by the passage of article 23 legislation which added an additional five new categories of security crimes including treason, insurrection, and sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage, and espionage activities. Hong kong authorities act as an extension of the chinese communist party. This is most evident in the distinct erosions in the rule of law which have implications that extend far beyond the undermining of civil liberties and freedoms.
▶ 0:38:15In a groundbreaking report, hong kong advocate and lawyer samuel beckett documented evidence for hong kong's ongoing policies of sanctions evasion on behalf of rogue actors including but not limited to russia, iran, and north korea. The report goes beyond the headlines we all know, the chief executive has openly flouted U.S.
▶ 0:38:36And international law by refusing to enforce sanctions and provides credible evidence hong kong companies engage in ship to ship transfers, provide will use technologies or components, and establish show companies to evade sanctions on behalf of. Most notably hong kong contributes substantially toward russia's war of aggression against ukraine.
▶ 0:38:59From august to december 2023, the report found hong kong provided over $2 billion in shipments of band goods to support russia. Hong kong presents among the clearest examples of what happens when the U.S. does not effectively counter the ccp's threats to human rights and good governance. America is not immune from the impacts of hong kong's decline. As a direct result of the ccp undermining rule of law, hong kong is a risky place to do business.
▶ 0:39:30Transnational repression including on U.S. soil is increasing and the rights of hong kong continue to be violated. Unfortunately, hong kong's decline is happening amid waning commitments from the U.S. to safeguard and define human rights. Reductions at the bureau of democracy and human rights of labor at the department of states, planned cuts to nearly all U.S. government grants supporting human rights and markers to globally and the democracy -- targeting of radio free asia, hamstringing U.S. ability for human rights in hong kong and beyond.
▶ 0:40:01These cuts are being made at precisely the same time the ccp is threatening human rights at historic levels. This will have severe implications for international security in the present and undercut U.S. efforts to support human rights abroad for decades to come. While it may be true in the short-term it is unlikely that hong kong will revert to its previous freedom loving semiautonomous estate.
▶ 0:40:24It is inaccurate to say there are no tools at the U.S.'s disposal to hold the ccp and hong kong officials accountable and alleviate the suffering of the hong kong people. I asked my full testimony, which includes more than 20 policy recommendations, be submitted for the record appeared I will highlight seven policy actions now. Congress and the administration should oppose cuts to grants and key personnel's.
▶ 0:40:52Second, issue targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for implement and, enforcing, prosecuting, and ruling on the and sl in article 23 legislation. Third, consider whether certain entities in hong kong can be primary money-laundering concerns.
▶ 0:41:09Fourth, continue appropriations for radio free asia and press for pre-existing funds to be released so they can continue operating and ideally restart. At the very least, the cantonese tibetan services. Press for the release of all political prisoners in hong kong and consider creating an office of political prisoner advocacy at the U.S. department of state. Six, consider revoking the hong kong economic and trade offices special privileges and immunities.
▶ 0:41:37And continue to provide refugee and asylum safe haven to hone congress in need. Thank you. >> thank you. We will turn to sophie richardson, a longtime activist and scholar of chinese politics, human rights, and foreign policy. From 2006 to 2023 she served as china director of human rights watch, where she oversaw the organization's research and advocacy. She speaks mandarin and received her doctorate from the university of virginia.
▶ 0:42:06Her current research focuses on the global implications of democracies, weak responses to repressive chinese governments, advising several chinese china focused human rights organizations. Dr. richardson. >> chairman curtis, ranking never came, members of the subcommittee. In queue for the opportunity to enjoy this discussion about human rights in hong kong.
▶ 0:42:32Over the past five years, the chinese government accelerated its assault on every aspect of what made hong kong a center for thriving civic life, free media, the rule of law, professional law enforcement, and opportunities for democratic participation. I would like to start with our collective acknowledgment that growing authoritarianism has influenced even who can sit on this panel.
▶ 0:42:55Successive congresses have expressed their concerns about solidarity with hong kong human rights and markers the activists, including those inside and outside hong kong by welcoming them to testify. Aggressive global threats have made such participation a gravely risky proposition. My organization has documented two aspects of chinese president xi jinping's nationwide assault that illustrates significant rollbacks for hong kong people.
▶ 0:43:26Between 2019 and 2024 according to available data, chinese authorities arbitrarily detained 1545 people, 123 in hong kong, for peacefully exercising or advocating for human rights. More individuals, and hong kong were committed of us -- in mainland china. The average prison sentence in hong kong under the 2020 national security law is more than five years.
▶ 0:43:56Second, numerous cases documented of authorities inflicting collective punishment on hong kong human rights defenders, the harassment where police or administrative actions taken against persons in a group where a family retaliation for an act committed by an individual. There is no legal basis or justification for punishment in chinese, hong kong, or international law.
▶ 0:44:17The violations are an affront not only to hong kong's obligations under the international covenant of civil and political rights, but an affront to the laws of democracy in which many activists now live. Congress has been key in pushing forward some of the most important U.S. support for human rights in hong kong and with that history in mind, I would like to offer the following recommendations.
▶ 0:44:39Ch already supports the potentially transformative importance of investigating and prosecuting chinese government officials for alleged crimes against humanity and genocide targeting yuigyers. Making it a reality can make those officials reconsider their involvement in widespread systematic abuses.
▶ 0:45:00Along these lines, unappropriate and initiative with respect to hong kong can include an effort that would collect evidence of government officials complicity in human rights violations, many civil society groups have assembled information that could contribute to such an endeavor. Ch already encourages sanctioning officials and located in human rights cases in hong kong.
▶ 0:45:19Democracy should condition at least symbolic interactions with senior leaders from beijing and hong kong on the release of wrongfully detained human rights defenders with a particular urgency for those reportedly unwell in detention. Recalling that we recently observed the eighth anniversary of the death in state custody of estate lawyer who beijing imprisoned for his pro-democracy call spray democracy should prioritize senior levels listening to the of hong kong human rights and democracy
▶ 0:45:51Activists formulation. Ch already urges congress to reinstate state support for radio free asia and encourages congress to reject the omb recommendation to eliminate china focused funding for democracy and human rights work to erase this work and empower xi jinping, disadvantaging the U.S. and putting at risk many people from and across hong kong and china who courageously work for human rights and democracy.
▶ 0:46:19In closing, I would like to recall in may 2017, just a few months before the death, the pro-democracy icons, legislator martin lee and student activist joshua wong, testified before the congressional executive commission on china which was chaired by then senator rubio.
▶ 0:46:39Senator rubio stressed the importance of autonomy free speech and participation in hong kong noting "our hope is to continue to highlight human rights as a key pillar of our national security and foreign policy." and stressing the connection between human rights and economic ties. They spoke memorably about their determination for human rights and democracy in hong kong as a matter of security and values and to come what may for themselves, their families, and allies. The U.S.
▶ 0:47:07Should offer these aspirations in so many people six ordinary work and sacrifices and challenge baking at any opportunity to uphold its obligations under international human rights law. Thank you and I look forward to your questions. >> it is nice to have you with us, joey siu. He is the spokesperson of amnesty international hong kong overseas, also serves as exec it if counsel of the world liberty congress. A global coalition of pro-democracy advocates.
▶ 0:47:38As a student leader she played a crucial role during the 2019 pro-democracy protest in hong kong, organizing on campus and citywide demonstrations. Which is when I first met her. December 2023, the hong kong authorities issued an international arrest warrant for her, a U.S. citizen, for allegedly violating the draconian national security law with her advocacy. Offering a bounty of one million hong kong dollars.
▶ 0:48:06Just to note the bipartisan nature of this, the next two witnesses are here as bipartisan witnesses. >> chairman curtis, ranking member kaine, this committee, thank you for having me. The p.r.c. Implementation of the national security law of 2020 severely restricted hong kong freedom and rights. We saw the erosion of hong kong's freedom for the closure of other media outlets.
▶ 0:48:38Journalists and publishers including jimmy lai have been persecuted for publishing dissent, resulting in an absolute chilling effect where censorship is the norm in hong kong. Freedom of assembly has also been eradicated. For 30 years, hong kong was the only place under p.r.c. Rule or candlelight vigil's were allowed. Since 2020, commemorations have been banned and lighting a candle is a crime in hong kong. What was once a symbol for remembrance and courage is now treated as subversion.
▶ 0:49:11There's also the destruction of the freedom of association. Last month, the legal social democrats, the last functioning pro-democracy party, was forcibly disbanded. Since five years ago, almost 100 labor unions much urges, student organizations, and civil society groups have been intimidated into silence. And to suffocate the already shrinking and limited political space, the hong kong authorities introduced a safeguarding national security ordinance which is also known as article 23.
▶ 0:49:41Reading new national security offenses and increasing penalties for existing ones. It granted the hong kong government's sweeping enforcement powers under the broad invade -- vague national security. With this subcommittee focus on the western hemisphere, I want to know across all of the latin america region, of over 660 million people, or are around 3300 political prisoners.
▶ 0:50:09In hong kong, a tiny city of 7 million people, the number is at 1940. This staggering figure speaks to the scale of the p.r.c. Possum refresh -- repression and takeover. I would like to note there is a human rights lower your now detained for june commemorations , expanding her days and nights in solitary confinement.
▶ 0:50:36There is also a former legislator who was persecuted for participating peaceful democratic primary elections. And young leaders like myself, including my friend owen chow, a freshly graduated nurse who was once the brightest rising political stars serving 12 years and 10 months in prison, solely for being a voice of the hong kong people. Unfortunately all signs indicate something darker for hong kong.
▶ 0:51:04The core system in hong kong seeks total isolation of dissidents rather than just arrest and prosecution. Last week, the hong kong government tightened rules for visits on vague national security grounds. Cutting these detainees off from legal counsel even before conviction. This black box for potential torture and inhumane treatment profoundly undermines resumption of innocence and weaponizes incarceration as a psychological warfare.
▶ 0:51:32I would also like to note the judiciary in hong kong is a vehicle for persecution. Delivering preordained conditions with legal definitions that are manipulated and expanded to fit the p.r.c. Agenda. Waging illegal warfare that criminalizes not just speech and behavior, but also thought.
▶ 0:51:52The government campaigned against the so-called soft resistant inside of hong kong is the latest iteration where a blank piece of paper or a silent gesture are considered national security threats that can let you in prison for up to 10 years or life. A national security apparatus continues to expand beyond the democracy and human rights goal. With new economic security mandates leading to business surveillance and censorship.
▶ 0:52:21True correctness campaigns nonregulated art, literature, productions, even school curriculum in hong kong. What is more is the p.r.c. Takeover of hong kong does not stop at the borders. As the chairman manchin, on december 13, 2023, I woke up to the news I had become the first and by far the only U.S. citizen wanted by the hong kong authorities for allegedly violating a national security law by colluding with a foreign country, the U.S., my own country.
▶ 0:52:50And with one million hong kong dollars bounty for my arrest. This growing transnational repression against me and and over crackdown of hong kong both illustrate the p.r.c. Blueprint for its export off authoritarian practices. If we in the U.S. allow us to destroy hong kong without consequences, it was spillover to taiwan, the indo pacific, and latin america. In the united states must respond with more clarity and strategic commitment.
▶ 0:53:19By first prioritizing human rights as a core U.S. foreign-policy principal. To continue to press for the immediate release of all hong kong's prisoners of conscience, specifically jimmy lai, -- and owen chow. To sustain and increase federal funding for organizations that support hong kong's resistance, including but not limited to the national endowment for democracy, radio free asia, among others.
▶ 0:53:47Last but not least to guarantee humanitarian settlement pathways for hong kong because these people deserve a safe haven to tell stories. And with that I want to end with a quote from owen, my dear friend. Evil always reads more havoc when the forces of good have been weekend. Less latch onto it. A queue for your attention in this important matter and for being the force of good. >> thank you.
▶ 0:54:19>>>> I'm not sure how to take my arrest warrant came with no bounty and yours was $1 million. It tells us about your work. Finally, cai finally, caolifoinn gallagher. Your and internationally.
▶ 0:54:36Her caseload includes international and legal -- legal terms for jim eli, the pro-democracy campaigner unjustly imprisoned in hong kong, alongside practice, she's a commissioner with irish human rights and equality commission, ireland special reporter on child protection, a board member of the committee to protect journalists. A fellow of the royal society of arts and professor at university college dublin.
▶ 0:55:04In 2023 she was awarded the president of ireland's distinguished service award and recognition. We are glad to have you with us. You now have five minutes. >> thank you, chairman curtis and ranking member kaine and members of the subcommittee after inviting me to give testimony on this important topic. The status of democracy and human rights in hong kong. That topic and the fate of one man are inextricably linked.
▶ 0:55:30My client, jimmy lai, who you have heard from the other witnesses. His case is emblematic of the crackdown on human rights, media freedom, and democracy in hong kong that we have seen in the past half decade. As you have heard, hong kong was until relatively recently a beacon in the region.
▶ 0:55:50A bastion of the feet -- free press, a place with the flourishing civil society, adherence to international standards, the rule of law was intact, businesses and foreign investment benefited from the stable uncertain environment. Hong kong's descent into a very different place has been very precipitous. It has plummeted down the press freedom rankings. For example, it has tumbled from 18th in the world a decade ago, languishing at the bottom of the league table in the red zone.
▶ 0:56:23140 out of 180 countries in the world. Nestled in the table most recently with kazakhstan and rwanda. Beaten by water mall and congo. In these brief opening remarks I wish to address three topics. First, a very brief overview on jimmy lai and what he stands for. With the man being emblematic of hong kong's freedoms, which we have seen loss. Secondly, a brief overview of what has happened to him in the past five years.
▶ 0:56:51Emblematic of hong kong's deterioration. Thirdly and critical he, what must be done. First of all, very briefly. More detail in my written testimony. Jimmy lai is a remarkable man. Brave, brilliant, forged in fires as his deputy and right-hand man mark simon, who sits here today often says him as a child refugee to hong kong
▶ 0:57:22And became one of the most successful businessman in the region. Since the tiananmen square protest and massacre, is been a leading fact -- in the pro-democracy movement. He used his wealth for good. A well-known and high-profile advocate for peaceful assembly, fearless critic of the government and authorities of the p.r.c.. Apple daily quickly became one of hong kong's most popular newspapers and was one of the largest independent chinese leg which media outlet until its forced closure in june 2021.
▶ 0:57:53From -- and for Mr. lai, access to free and independent information gives people choice and choice is freedom. And through his fearlessly independent journalism and his people pro-democracy activism, he became a figurehead in the hong kong pro-democracy movement. A courageous critic of human rights violations perpetrated by the authorities.
▶ 0:58:14And to use his own words, he said this "I think it is my duty to do whatever I can to fight for freedom and keep the rule of law here." secondly, the law fair he spoke since 2020, Mr. lai has over the years trod on powerful toes. And the authorities have long hated him for it and targeted him for it.
▶ 0:58:38In multiple ways, including financially with his business and his home being firebombed, him being targeted in multiple ways to silence him. In the past five years, the most powerful tool of all has been used effectively against him. The law. What we have seen is a series, a barrage of serious lawsuits and prosecutions against him designed to do one thing. To silence him and to have a chilling effect on any others who might dare to speak truth to power.
▶ 0:59:10Since his arrest in august 2020 under the draconian national security law, he served four sentences of imprisonment, currently serving a fifth. The united nations working group and arbitrary detention found he should not have served a single day in prison, that every single one of those sentences and every single one of those prosecutions involve multiple violations of his fair trial and due process rights and found his detention is arbitrary.
▶ 0:59:40He's now on trial for alleged sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, a vaguely defined offense under the nsl, that allows its arbitrary to ask of free speech. He faces life imprisonment if convicted. In reality given his age, means a death sentence. He's currently facing trial for sedition, essentially conspiracy to commit journalism. And under the national security law for collusion with foreign forces, and U.S.
▶ 1:00:10Government and U.S. lawmakers are at the heart of the allegations against him, meeting with senators, members of the U.S. government as being criminal. Most urgently of all, humanitarian issues. Time is frankly running out for Mr. lai. The conditions of his detention, his age, and health, make this case exceptionally urgent. He will turn 78 later this year.
▶ 1:00:36He's spent almost half a decade in solitary confinement when international law makes clear anything over 14 days is problematic. He's denied natural sunlight, incarcerated at a tiny airless sell for over 23 hours per day put frankly, this in itself poses a threat to his life. As does the long sentence he will face if as inevitable, he's convicted. Just finally, multiple governments, including the U.S.
▶ 1:01:06Government and u.k. Government, multiple parliaments and international bodies have called for his immediate and unconditional release. We welcome that. The international consensus is clear on what should happen. He should be released. The key question is how to ensure it does happen for it is too late. We have seen with U.S. leadership, political will, creativity, joint working with partners resulting in remarkable releases in recent months.
▶ 1:01:36Including on friday from venezuela and that remarkable deal last august involving the russian releases. We now need political will and creativity and working with partners in order to ensure that you don't see this man died behind bars for being a journalist and for standing up for values the U.S. holds dear. Thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you to the witnesses. I will begin my question round with five minutes to begin my questions.
▶ 1:02:05With all of you, we will start over here with olivia. The united states has tried several policy tools. Everything from sanctions to public diplomacy in response to this repression you have all articulated. With specific steps. You would like to see and specifically what the legislative branch can do?
▶ 1:02:31Ms. Enos: Thank you. I have one overarching recommendation and three very quick ones. I promise I will be quick. The first is we have to continue to support funding and grants and the continuation of drl's good work.
▶ 1:02:53Ms. Enos: Apart from it, there are many organizations that will be shut down who are essential to maintaining the continuation of solid work on hong kong, but on china generally. Without those grants, many of them will close even as soon as the end of the summer. Some for sure by the end of the year. Three hong kong specific ones, I would like to see a money laundering concern designated for hong kong.
▶ 1:03:20Ms. Enos: Congress can hold the administration's feet to the fire by putting them on a specific timeline, reporting requirement asking them to investigate whether certain entities or sets of transactions quantifies a primary money laundering concern. It is important because it is a crosscutting -- cost-cutting measure. Business as usual is not -- it is not business as usual. The second is to press for the release of all political prisoners in hong kong. We have to be doing that daily.
▶ 1:03:48Ms. Enos: Numbers of commerce can adopt political prisoners. They should do so for hong kongers. The third is to ensure the extension of deferred and enforced departure for hong kongers passed its original deadline but also to ensure long-term permanent pathways for settlement. >> miss siu?
▶ 1:04:11Mr. Siu: Olivia noted the tools in hand and can be utilized in order to protect hong kong democracy and human rights. I would also like to note how the funding cut has been impacting the hong kong diaspora community and organizations that have been supporting hong kong's resistance, especially particularly regarding the national endowment for radio free asia with the shutdown of apple daily stand news and other media outlets, we are seeing there is a huge gap in terms of ensuring that the news from hong
▶ 1:04:41Mr. Siu: Kong coming out. And for so many years, especially the past five years, radio free asia has filled that gap. We need to ensure the funding is sustained for organizations, including to ensure we understand what is happening in hong kong currently to inform the U.S. policy.
▶ 1:04:58Mr. Siu: Also regards to the net, it is important we restore the funding dedicated to supporting freedom and human rights inside of hong kong because I believe it is very important that we make sure we are not just supporting the resistance verbally, but through meaningful contributions. That was the number one priority.
▶ 1:05:21Mr. Siu: Secondly I think there are several legislations currently in the congress that we should be passing, cleaning the hong kong economic and trade office certification act which I know the chairman also supports. For so long, it has been used as a tool to expand the ccp's influence in the united states. Very recently, on the hong kong diaspora community. Their status must be reviewed. >> Dr. richardson?
▶ 1:05:44Dr. Richardson: I think congress should start considering requiring U.S. businesses to conduct human rights do diligence on their operations in hong kong to make sure they are not creating or contribute into violations. This both helps make sure that the iccpr have their laws upheld. It would also help in the mixed messaging that results from seeing U.S.
▶ 1:06:07Dr. Richardson: Businesses showing up and working with precisely some of the same people responsible fo carrying out human rights violationsr. >> am I going to pronounce it right? >> caoilfhionn. I got called all sorts of things, as you can imagine. I just raise a few things. The first is to say china is not unusual in targeting dissidents, journalists, those who speak truth to power.
▶ 1:06:37Dr. Richardson: Something that is different is the fig leaf of due process. You can do business as usual, trying to still masquerade as a financial center. Presenting a new international court to challenge the international court of justice and have their own form of court. They do want to maintain that fiction of one country two systems.
▶ 1:07:06Dr. Richardson: It seems to me that gives us real leverage. We know it is in their policy interest to have hong kong return for the rule of law is intact and highlighting the narrative in the way that this hearing is doing is hugely helpful is the first thing I would say. >> just quickly, I'm over time or in my colleagues are giving the minute grace.
▶ 1:07:28Ms. Gallagher: Second I would say is the U.S. and u.k. Governments working together should be key to securing jimmy lai's release. He's a british national but his case is connected with the U.S. in many ways.
▶ 1:07:43Ms. Gallagher: And for senators, we would ask that in your interaction with the state department and nsc staff, given there has been coverage suggesting there may be some high-level engagements at aipac towards the end of october, and potentially even a high-level visit to china, it is essential the release of jim eli is raised in the before any engagement and should be front and center of the agenda in the coming months.
▶ 1:08:08Ms. Gallagher: >> all wonderful answers prayed I made it through one question of my many pages p and I would like to point out -- I was right to ask about this -- if we don't pass any new hong kong measures in this congress, there is a risk that is interpreted by the cpp as silent, that silence is we are accepting what is happening. With that, I yirlf with that, I yirr and give -- high-yielding give five minutes to the ranking member.
▶ 1:08:38Ms. Gallagher: >> I just want to acknowledge the chair of the committee has been active with many of us in repeated statements on behalf of jimmy lai. Ms. siu, you have testified here before. You know that people in the room and people watching are a mixture of experts in the topic who care deeply about it, and people who are coming to the topic new and who care deeply about it. I'm going to ask you a basic question prayed why is the ccp afraid of you?
▶ 1:09:07Ms. Gallagher: You are a 26-year-old who started your advocacy when you were about 17 or 18. Why would they be afraid enough of you to put one million won bounty on your head? >> I think it is because I create troubles. I have done that since I became an activist in 2019. I think my personal stories mirrors one of hong kongers over resistance.
▶ 1:09:34Ms. Gallagher: Chairman curtis, I met him back in 2019 when I was a student activist organizing citywide protests and demonstrations on campus. That was also when hong kongers, and a small city of only 7 million people, 2 million took onto the streets to say no to the ccp's oppression. S following that, the ccp has doubled down on its crackdowns on our freedoms to assembly, expression, and association. >> by trouble, you mean assembly?
▶ 1:10:02Ms. Gallagher: Which we are guaranteed in this country, the right to peacefully assemble, petition government freedom. Address grievances. Expression, protest. I don't view peaceful activity as trouble. But apparently some do. Is that right? >> that is correct. The ccp sees our exercising of rights to freedom of assembling, association, and expression as huge trouble.
▶ 1:10:25Ms. Gallagher: That is why I think it is the reason they decided to further introduce a safeguarding national security ordinance on top of the national security office. >> on the expression side, you referenced briefly in your testimony but did not explain. For those of you who care that may not be experts, the blank paper protest.
▶ 1:10:46Ms. Gallagher: In hong kong and other parts of china, the degree of suppression of the russian was so great that creative activists began holding up blank sheets of paper with no figures on them whatsoever as a way to demonstrate there are things we would like to say. But the repression of this government means we cannot even put anything on this sheet of paper and the chinese government has cracked down on the use of blank sheets and paper.
▶ 1:11:17Ms. Gallagher: They have not only cracked down on it, but they scrubbed social media accounts because chinese citizens were searching blank sheet of paper wondering what this is all about and there has been a crack on on the availability of even that search for chinese citizens to find out what a blank sheet of paper means. >> that is correct.
▶ 1:11:37Ms. Gallagher: After the introduction of article 23, there had been arrests and convictions are made in hong kong for people who had worn a t-shirt with protest slogans, arrests of individuals who had written protest slogans on buses and held blank pieces of paper in protest of the government with nothing written on it. That speaks to the kale -- scale of the piercy takeover. >> let me ask you one other question. An article I would like to introduce in the record from radio free asia.
▶ 1:12:03Ms. Gallagher: Ccp chair's rfa cantonese's demise. Talk about what cantonese language radio free asia has meant to hong kong. >> as I said, for the past five years, especially following the closure of apple daily and stand news, it has become one of the few forces that kept on reporting about what has been developing inside of hong kong with article 23 and the national
▶ 1:12:35Ms. Gallagher: Security office not just a source for hong kongers outside of hong kong where the international community to understand what the p.r.c. Is doing, but also a source for the people on the ground to understand what is happening given the piercy had revoked visas for international journalists and shut down other media outlets reporting on court news and everything else.
▶ 1:12:55Ms. Gallagher: I cannot stress enough how important the cantonese service has been to the people of hong kong for a month, the month before the forced shutdown due to the funding cuts, they reached 1.2 million people online. I think that speaks to the importance of rfa. >> with that I will yield the remember of my time. >> I would like to recognize the senator from new hampshire for five minutes.
▶ 1:13:25Ms. Gallagher: >> thank you Mr. chairman. Last week, the members of the entire committee released a report that highlights how the trump administration's actions in the first six months in office have undermined our ability to compete with china. This is the report. If you have not seen it I would offer it for anyone's interest.
▶ 1:13:55Ms. Gallagher: A clear example of this is the one you were referring to. With senator kaine. The administration silencing our voice in hong kong through radio free asia. Since hong kong's handover to china radio free asia has served as a beacon of independent media.
▶ 1:14:21Ms. Gallagher: The administration's decision to withhold congressionally appropriated funds resulted in the closure of radio free asia's cantonese operations exactly five years since the enactment of the draconian national security law. You alluded that chinese nationals celebrated this news only had a real victory for asian journalism.
▶ 1:14:50Ms. Gallagher: You talked about what the consequences are of abandoning this independent media in hong kong. Can you or any other members of the panel talk about how the prc is taking advantage of the closure?
▶ 1:15:09Ms. Siu: Sure. Thank you for the question. I will be tried a quick about that. With the shutdown on july 1, there's little to no independent media that is still operating in hong kong that can actually report about the underground developments.
▶ 1:15:29Ms. Siu: Fortunately that created a huge gap fueled by chinese estate affiliated media such as tvb, et c. That also creates this huge information gap that does not help when it comes to informing U.S. policy in regards to hong kong. I is so important that we resume the funding so the cantonese service and my panelists -- because those have been the beacon of media voices.
▶ 1:16:01Ms. Siu: I will stop there. >> I wanted to thank you for a different point made in the report. This is one of the only institutions available for human rights activists from across china to try at enormous risk to put forward issues to get some readdress. The chinese government consistently tops reprisals for trying to engage with you and human rights mechanisms.
▶ 1:16:33Ms. Siu: The chinese government has become extremely adept at influencing that system and changing how it works and shutting critics out and it is a bison to an institution. It is not the one I would design -- by 17 institution. It is not one I would design. It's a clear commitment to making it about human rights. It's deeply problematic. Thank you for flagging that. >> thank you.
▶ 1:16:58Ms. Siu: Can you talk a little bit about what kind of message that sends to the people of hong kong and others looking at our withdrawal from that organization?
▶ 1:17:13Dr. Richardson: It is confusing and demoralizing. It is already externally difficult for chinese activists and activists from hong kong to interact with that system and not necessarily have the leadership and air cover so to speak that democratic governments can bring to bear in keeping those institutions open for their participation and making sure events reflect their views and reports are contributed and voices are
▶ 1:17:44Dr. Richardson: Heard. That is an incredibly -- I assume you would agree -- an incredibly important part of how activists can bring issues forward.
▶ 1:17:56Ms. Siu: If I may add, there is widespread confusion among the hong kong people. Why we are conceding the space. It is an important narrative space for the chinese communist party. There's also huge concern shared by the hong kong community as to who is going to take over the gap that is being left out under rfa. That is going to be the ccp.
▶ 1:18:23Ms. Siu: I just wanted to add that the ccp is already overtaking the shortwave frequencies radio free asia used. Not just in the chinese context. I also work on korea and this is happening in the north korean contacts as well. What's happening with radio free asia is a microcosm. We are going to leave human rights and democracy promotion up to other people around the world who don't share our same values.
▶ 1:18:49Ms. Siu: I would also just note that one of the most important things congress can do on this is ensure that radio free asia has a separate line item, not underneath the U.S. agm hospice, but a separate line item for appropriations that make it possible for radio free asia to be depoliticize in the current context.
▶ 1:19:08Ms. Siu: >> I would also add to that the defunding of the us agency for global media has significantly also limited the operations of most of america 450 latin american affiliates. And since the subcommittee deals with those issues, it is important to add that into the record as well. Thank you all very much. >> thank you. The senator from florida. Five minutes. >> thank you for being here. Thank you for what you do each and every day.
▶ 1:19:43Ms. Siu: Jimmy lai as a great advocate for free press and the hard-working entrepreneur who has been held as a prisoner in hong kong because he did not cower to xi jinping or censor the atrocities he committed. What the chinese communist party is doing to him is disgusting. Xi jinping and his thugs are responsible for this abusive -- this abuse of jimmy lai. Jimmy as a friend.
▶ 1:20:13Ms. Siu: It is an honor to speak on his behalf. And do whatever I can to do to return him to freedom. What can be done to help jimmy lai and other political prisoners?
▶ 1:20:28Ms. Enos: I think jimmy lai represents freedom in general. Such an important figure. There several things the administration can do. It was encouraging to see jimmy has been adopted by a member of congress. That's an important move. I think beyond this, it would be great to see state department expanding its ability to prioritize political prisoner release at the executive branch level.
▶ 1:21:01Ms. Enos: I vouched for an office for hostage affairs to make it that it is squarely within the U.S.'s realm to be able to not only advocate for U.S. hostage is a broad for individuals like jimmy lai or not american citizens but are equally worthy of our best efforts.
▶ 1:21:31Ms. Enos: >> thank you for your powerful advocacy for jimmy lai. He is lucky to have you in his corn and we are grateful for everything you've done in relation to his case. I agree entirely with the remarks he made about jimmy lai and the importance of his case. There is such a urgency now given his state of health.
▶ 1:21:51Ms. Enos: Just about that starkly in context, there is strong evidence showing there's on much elevated risk of death will you have -- when you have elderly prisoners, who is diabetic. >> with no sunlight. >> that's right, limited fresh air, very limited meaningful human interaction.
▶ 1:22:16Ms. Enos: So in any circumstances, regardless of conditions, there's and elevated risk of death. Once you hit 15 days, that is problematic. He's been held in solitary confinement for over 600 days. Since december of 2020. There's an elevated risk of death in any event and because of his age and state of health, that is a real risk.
▶ 1:22:44Ms. Enos: It seems to us it is simply not in china's and transfer jimmy lai -- interest for jimmy lai to die in prison. As the chinese communist party repeatedly said, they consider him a notorious anti-china element and a risk to national security and so on. Turning him into a martyr does not seem to be in their own interest either. There's a critical moment coming up.
▶ 1:23:11Ms. Enos: As more focus is turning to U.S. and u.k. Relationships with china, it is essential jimmy lai's case is resolved before any talk of normalization or closer relations with china progresses. Our view is Mr. jimmy lai must be released before china is taken seriously as a credible partner, with consequences to engagement with china while jimmy lai remains behind bars.
▶ 1:23:43Ms. Siu: Thank you for your attention to this measure. You were in hong kong and 2019. I think your experience reflects the prc's takeover. In regards to jimmy lai. I mentioned two recommendations. Prioritize human rights as a core U.S. foreign policy principle and the U.S. to urge for the release of hong kong's prisoners, including jimmy lai and others.
▶ 1:24:09Ms. Siu: It is very crucial that we mentioned these names in every conversation we are having with the prc. Including in regards to ai and trade. It's crucial we continue putting the pressure from the congress and the executive branch in regards to call for the release of jimmy lai and any others. >> I agree completely with all the suggestions.
▶ 1:24:32Ms. Siu: I would add that you and/or members of the subcommittee -- other members of the senate, people from the administration should relentlessly ask to see him, even if you know you are going to be denied, and insist on his release. It could be transactional or situational. One of the ways the U.S.
▶ 1:24:51Ms. Siu: And german government eventually secured the release of the widow, who was arbitrarily detained for eight or nine years after his death, confined to solitary in her apartment in beijing, they just kept asking. Angela merkel just kept asking. Every single time she saw xi jinping. She just said, you have to let her go.
▶ 1:25:19Ms. Siu: And that was not consistency and that the requests were made at that level. That is something that easily people committed to this issue as you are could do. >> thanks what each of you to. >> thank you, senator scott. Five minutes to the senator from oregon. >> thank you for putting this hearing together.
▶ 1:25:43Ms. Siu: I am struck about the similarity between what you are all present in here, what was presented before the china commission, which then senator rubio and I had terms in chairing, and what came last september in the committee for freedom for hong kong. Perhaps we will see you at the third annual gathering of that here in september. Some of the things you mentioned strike a chord, Ms.
▶ 1:26:10Ms. Siu: Siu, that lighting a candle is a crime. That suggests how dramatically hong kong has changed.
▶ 1:26:23Dr. Richardson: -- Dr. richardson, your support for crimes against humanity, especially against the uighurs. I cowrote the weaker prevention act. I would like to see other countries adopt a similar assumption -- similar presumption. We have a safe harbor for companies that prove it's not. It is the only effective answer.
▶ 1:26:55Dr. Richardson: We c goods rejected here, shipped to canada. Which is unacceptable. Ms. gallagher, your fierce conversation about the in humility -- the inhumanity of the way that jimmy lai has been treated, his son, sebastian, has come a repeatedly along with others to keep making that case.
▶ 1:27:25Dr. Richardson: There are two bills this committee -- in this committee, mandate sanctions on hong kong on officials on human rights abuses. Complicit on human rights abuses. Do any of you support getting that done? I see nodding heads across the board.
▶ 1:27:52Dr. Richardson: The second is the stop ccp money laundering act. We are co-that. One of you mentioned money laundering is a significant factor. Does anyone see any reason not to proceed with getting that past? -- that passed? I appreciate your suggestion that if our failure to pass legislation out of formulations and hong kong would be an implicit statement about our lack of concern.
▶ 1:28:23Dr. Richardson: I don't want that to happen. I saw hopeful -- I so hope on the foundation of those bills to proceed. One thing that has really troubled me is the persistent business activity hong kong has so violently tried to sustain to give themselves cover. It is a key vulnerability, if companies were in a translocated.
▶ 1:28:52Dr. Richardson: Is there any sort of strategy in the words to try to move the financial operations of firms that participate -- it is unacceptable to be located and contributing to what china has done in hong kong.
▶ 1:29:09Ms. Enos: It is not business as usual in hong kong and we all know this year. Many businesses would prefer to look the other way. We have to make it so they can't look the other way. This is a huge part of the reason why I have long advocated for a money laundering concern designation especially for subsets of transactions of specific institutions because that has the potential to shift risk.
▶ 1:29:36Ms. Enos: And we know this because a primary money laundering concern designation was used against hong kong and the banks that we are not going to touch bank of delta asia once it had that designation issue. We need to start doing that for hong kong. Because businesses are continuing to buy the propaganda from john lee and others that hong kong is just fine. But we know they are actively supporting russia's war of aggression against ukraine.
▶ 1:30:05Ms. Enos: They are actively supporting other rogue actors like iran and north korea and we know this because of a fabulous report that sam bigoted on "-- sam d. Did on "beneath the harbor." >> I asked the report we submitted without objection. >> it's important to say, I briefly referred to what happened to apple daily.
▶ 1:30:34Ms. Enos: State-sponsored theft of a hugely successful business. As well as being of course a real blow to press freedom, it is also a real cautionary tale for the over 1003 U.S. businesses which currently operate in hong kong, the 84,000 U.S. citizens currently based in hong kong, because so vaguely defined are the offenses under the national security law that anyone who was operating in that environment is at real risk.
▶ 1:31:02Ms. Enos: What I would also say is what we see with hong kong is it the gaming -- becoming a safe harbor for human rights violators and essentially an authoritarian regime masquerading as a free market/free trade hub. Finest laundromat for cleaning money in the east.
▶ 1:31:23Ms. Enos: I am always struck by those powerful words which former congressman gallagher used, where he described golden blindfolds being worn by individuals staring at the windows of their glass offices onto victoria harbor and it is really critical, because we know how important it is to hong kong and china to have hong kong seen as a place where it is safe to do business and we must keep calling out the fact that in its current guise, it is not a safe place to do business.
▶ 1:31:51Ms. Enos: But I also asked that we read into the record the powerful piece which was recently written by the committee to protect journalists on why what's happening under the national security law and eroding press freedom is also bad for business from the 30th of june, they point out hong kong's economic boom happened because journalists could work without interference.
▶ 1:32:13Ms. Enos: And that what you now have is fading financial appeal, in part because of hong kong trying to continue being seen as an international financial center in circumstances where it has such gross restrictions on information and crackdown on press freedom. It is also bad for business. >> can we put that report in the record? Could I follow-up one point here? I know I am over time.
▶ 1:32:40Ms. Enos: So, as we think about the manufacturing that goes on, with the uighurs in china, we are able to say companies consider moving to vietnam, not that there human rights record is perfect, but continuing to work closely with vietnam and hopefully to see a much better situation there than with the uighurs, or other places in asia that have the potential for the same sort of
▶ 1:33:10Ms. Enos: Manufacturing. But is there an alternative for the financial center in hong kong? Where would consider business, you could be in kuala lumpur -- is it partly that there's no magnet alternative that keeps these big companies doing the financial business in hong kong? Is there not a feasible alternative?
▶ 1:33:40Dr. Richardson: I will try to answer both those questions. Thank you for all your hard work . The story of the last 40 years involves a lot of U.S. business activity and money flowing into china as the chinese government got progressively more regressive.
▶ 1:34:04Dr. Richardson: It should not have taken credible allegations of crimes against humanity and genocide to get us to that point. We had 40 years of occasionally a story floats up that x american company has been found using forced labor or y company is dealing with labor unrest -- what are we waiting for? These variables are extremely clear. Unless and until U.S.
▶ 1:34:30Dr. Richardson: Companies and any companies are required to show that they are not part of the problem, we are going to keep having this conversation and we will only be able to pass laws when the situation has gotten exponentially worse than it should have. This is not the direction everybody wanted to convince themselves we were going in post tannin meant -- tiananmen .
▶ 1:35:00Dr. Richardson: It will all get better is not how it has turned out. Thank you. >> I have lots of thoughts on you pa but I will go ahead and address I think singapore has been offered as a credible alternative. It is close with china and mississippi. I think we should be encouraging folks to just be more focused on the u.k. And the U.S. which are the stronger financial centers to be focused on at this particular juncture.
▶ 1:35:31Dr. Richardson: I think that should be an area of focus. I believe in the resilience of the market and businesses can be agile and party they are just choosing willfully to look the other way. Just incredible eminence of ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity for uighurs. It is fairly breathtaking over the last several years. We are beyond the point of saying it's ok business, they absolutely know and are continuing to look the other way.
▶ 1:36:01Dr. Richardson: >> I would love to see press where 25 major financial companies together say we are moving to singapore and we are doing it six months from now if x, y, and z don't change. We need some kind of shock to change the dynamic. >> it's going to require folks like jamie diamond and j.p. Morgan and chase continuing to underwrite public offerings for hong kong companies to say I am not doing that anymore.
▶ 1:36:31Dr. Richardson: We cannot verify this because the rule of law so undermined. And they have to stop coming when john lee invites them for big, flashy business conferences where there is just tons of executives lining up. >> thanks so much. >> if the witnesses will indulge the ranking member and I, we would like to finish with a question or to ourselves. We can't pass up the opportunity to have you here and appreciate your expertise. I will yield to the ranking member. >> I have two topics I would like to address briefly.
▶ 1:37:01Dr. Richardson: Ms. enos, you testified and I was taken aback that it is not only that the U.S. has shuttered rfa operations with respect to china and in north korea, but did you indicate that this ecp is taking over the shortwave frequencies that U.S. was using for those broadcasts? >> that is my understanding. >> that is pretty amazing.
▶ 1:37:26Dr. Richardson: If we had just terminated the broadcast, but let's just broadcast white noise which I guess is the audio version of a blank sheet of paper -- we could have stopped the ccp from taking over the frequencies that we are using. But by terminating these programs and doing nothing, we are actually allowing the ccp communication channels that they did not have before. So it is not just the reduction of a U.S. effort. The reduction of the U.S.
▶ 1:37:54Dr. Richardson: Effort has handed an asset of the ccp that they are not using to further disinformation and oppression. That is sort of a stunner. The second thing I want to ask is, a reference in my opening testimony -- I referenced in my opening testimony, in the uighur area, we have many uighurs that leave in virginia,
▶ 1:38:24Dr. Richardson: The persecution of uighurs in in try not to sort of punish the human rights act -- china to sort of punish the human rights act, are we seeing the same with respect to the persecution of hong kongers because of the activity of activists who have left hong kong, living in the united states and elsewhere, does it put their family members at risk was to live in hong kong ? >> yes. Absolutely.
▶ 1:38:53Dr. Richardson: Last month I testified before the commission where we talked about the trends and policy approaches to oppression and I referenced a lot of the situations our diaspora community is facing mirrors what the ecp has been doing with the uighur communities including the tactic of coercion by proxy where they are taking our family members, friends and loved ones including former colleagues and friends back home as hostages.
▶ 1:39:20Dr. Richardson: We have had cases of uighur americans and a virginia area, family members calling from mainland china controlled by the prc asking family members overseas to stop speaking about the uighur genocide or the family members will be taken to concentration camps. And we are seeing similar tactics employed against the hong kong community right now.
▶ 1:39:44Dr. Richardson: Our family members and friends are constantly taking into interrogation -- taken into interrogation being asked about our activities here in the united states. We have had cases mentioned in the beginning about a father and brother charged for having contact. That all illustrates the trends of oppression against the hong kong community, going towards the direction of what the uighur community has experience and unfortunately that includes myself. I live in virginia.
▶ 1:40:14Dr. Richardson: Even after leaving hong kong, I still do not feel safe. >> thank you. Ms. gallagher and then back to the chair. >> the tactics which are not being deployed by the hong kong authorities in relation to transnational oppression are horrendous and they are expanding.
▶ 1:40:44Dr. Richardson: We have seen the headlines about the bounties and what they do there in relation to family members but they are also broadening it and using it far more widely. That includes for example targeting individuals outside the diaspora or exile community. Our colleagues are acting as international lawyers for jimmy lai have been threatened with prosecution and called enemies of the state and had a whole range of threats sent to us.
▶ 1:41:13Dr. Richardson: Because we do not have family members in hong kong, we are not under the same level of pressure. But it is important to say this is now a new tactic which is expanding. And anyone who there stand up to the hong kong authorities is being targeted. May highlight sébastian lai, simply for being the son speaking out for his father, sebastian has been threatened with criminal prosecution. He's been threatened with criminal prosecution for addressing the united nations.
▶ 1:41:44Dr. Richardson: He's been accused of committing criminal offenses. As a result he has not seen his father since december of 2020 and he will never see his father again unless introductory changes and we can secure jimmy lai release --jimmy lai's release. >> thank you very much. Just one quick question. Mr. jimmy lai is a u.k. Citizen po how would uss london's response so far and what coordination should be united states be taking with a u.k.
▶ 1:42:13Dr. Richardson: And other allies to magnify the things we talked about today? >> thank you for the question. Jimmy lai is a british citizen. He is only a british citizen. That is not recognized by the chinese authorities will consider because he is ethnically chinese, he is chinese, which of course should send a chill down the spine of anyone because of their ethnicity, they could be faced with a long arm of the chinese state using those tnr tactics.
▶ 1:42:44Dr. Richardson: The british government was slow at the blocks to deal with this case. For a very long time, there was no commentary whatsoever coming from the u.k. About the case. In fact, the U.S. government showed real leadership in the space. We are very grateful for it be a rather U.S. government called for jimmy lai's immediate and unconditional release before the u.k. Government did so.
▶ 1:43:11Dr. Richardson: In december of 2023 they had a u-turn on their policy and finally called for jimmy lai's unconditional release -- immediate and unconditional release. What happened in washington fundamentally altered the u.k.'s position and gave the u.k. Steel in this case.
▶ 1:43:35Dr. Richardson: What we now need to see is using the leverage they have god. It is a case which intimately is connected to U.S. government interests, U.S. government and U.S. officials are at the heart of the prosecution, U.S. investors and U.S. executives have assets appropriated, those who work for apple daily and jimmy lai, and we are grateful to see the U.S.
▶ 1:44:02Dr. Richardson: President has twice referred to jimmy lai and the importance of securing his release both on the campaign trail and since he has come into office. And we are very grateful to see the support we are not getting from state and others. We want to see close working between the U.S. and u.k. To use the leverage they've got. When others a series of high-level engagements coming up the next number of months. And prime minister keir starmer is traveling to beijing.
▶ 1:44:28Dr. Richardson: Our view is that he should not travel to beijing, unless he sets as a condition that he will not go unless and until jimmy lai, a british citizen, is freed. We would ask for your support here to ensure that the U.S. hammers that message home in its bilateral engagement with the u.k. To make sure they use the release of their citizen. >> very well spoken. We are close to time. Dr. richardson, go ahead.
▶ 1:45:00Dr. Richardson: >> Dr. richardson: nature abhors a vacuum. Nature has not gotten anything on the chinese communist party. We spent the last hour talking about what happens when democracies failed to advance protections or step back from protections of open democratic spaces. The chinese government steps in.
▶ 1:45:19Dr. Richardson: Media, business, the u.n., human rights and democracies, citizens of democracies elsewhere -- it is my view that even as of a few years ago, democracies had under invested in protecting democratic spaces and institutions both for themselves and people inside china and hong kong who wanted the same things.
▶ 1:45:45Dr. Richardson: We need more coordination and resources and much higher ambition and actions between like-minded democracies. Not less. >> is a great way to end -- that's a great way to end. Thank you to the witnesses. Think it's of the ranking member be over the record will remain open until the close of business day tomorrow. Your responses will be made part of the record.
▶ 1:46:11Dr. Richardson: With that, I think the committee -- thank the committee and we stand adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]