US congress leaders have introduced a bill to grant refugee status to Hongkongers fearing political persecution under the newly enacted national security law.
The Hong Kong Safe Harbour Act will seek to admit Hong Kong residents who have been charged, persecuted or “have a well-founded fear of persecution” for their participation in peaceful protests.
On Sunday, Washington DC-based Hongkongers gathered near the White House to rally support for the bill.
“On the day after July 4th, Hongkongers and Americans are standing to together to send a clear signal to the CCP that Hongkongers and the free world will not be succumbed to the National Security Law,” advocacy group DC4HK tweeted. “We urge the US Congress to pass the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act.”
This afternoon, I attended and spoke at the @dc4_hk rally on the National Mall — after Beijing’s imposition of the National Security Law last week — in solidarity with our friends in #HongKong. I was grateful to see many new and familiar faces despite the circumstances. pic.twitter.com/nmpyWe6rtE
— Jeffrey Ngo 敖卓軒 (@jeffreychngo) July 6, 2020
According to the text of the bill, individuals who “acted as a first aid responder for such protests,” “suffered harm while covering such protests as a journalist” or “provided paid or pro-bono legal services to… individuals arrested for participating in such protests” will also be eligible for the asylum route.
The bipartisan bill is backed by representatives from both the Democrats and Republican parties.
“It is essential that the United States support a pathway to safe haven for those forced to flee their cherished city,” said Jim McGovern, chairman of the House Rules Committee. “I am proud to support this legislation and the human rights of the Hong Kong people.”
The US bill is one of the latest pieces of legislation to pressure governments to consider admitting Hong Kong residents whose safety and status are threatened by the national security law, which came into force last Wednesday.
Since then, 10 people have been apprehended on suspicion of breaching the legislation. Among the arrested is a 23-year-old man who rammed into police officers with his motorbike, which was fitted with a “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” flag. He was charged with terrorism and secession, and could face up to life imprisonment.
Taiwan has set up the Taiwan-Hong Kong Services and Exchanges Office to provide assistance to Hongkongers fleeing to the island.
“This is an important milestone for the government to further support democracy and freedom in Hong Kong,” said Chen Ming-tong, the head of Taiwan’s China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council.
New legislation will pave the way for more Hongkongers to apply for refuge overseas. Last Wednesday, Simon Cheng, a former staffer at Hong Kong’s UK Consulate, announced that the UK had granted him asylum. He was detained by Chinese authorities last August when returning from a work event in Shenzhen.
Read more: China confirms consulate staffer in custody, warns UK against ‘fanning flames’
Chinese media reported that he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute, but Cheng later said he was tortured, chained to a bed frame and forced to reveal the names of some Hong Kong protesters.
Two localist activists, Ray Wong and Alan Li, were also granted refugee status in 2018. Both faced charges of rioting for their participation in the Mong Kok civil unrest in 2016.
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