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Hong Kong Autonomy Act

USA116th CongressHR-7083| House 
| Updated: 6/1/2020
Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (8)
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andy Barr (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Rules Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President may impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. Such sanctions are mandatory if an individual or entity is named in two reports. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
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Timeline
Jun 1, 2020
Introduced in House
Jun 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 29, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-3798
Held at the desk.
  • June 1, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • June 1, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • June 29, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-3798
    Held at the desk.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7440: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-3798: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
AsiaBanking and financial institutions regulationChinaCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementForeign and international bankingForeign loans and debtForeign propertyHong KongHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational monetary system and foreign exchangeLegislative rules and procedureNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTrade restrictionsU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passports

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

USA116th CongressHR-7083| House 
| Updated: 6/1/2020
Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President may impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. Such sanctions are mandatory if an individual or entity is named in two reports. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jun 1, 2020
Introduced in House
Jun 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 29, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-3798
Held at the desk.
  • June 1, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • June 1, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • June 29, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-3798
    Held at the desk.
Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (8)
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andy Barr (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Rules Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7440: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-3798: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AsiaBanking and financial institutions regulationChinaCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementForeign and international bankingForeign loans and debtForeign propertyHong KongHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational monetary system and foreign exchangeLegislative rules and procedureNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTrade restrictionsU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passports