The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which will now move to the Senate before it can become law, has drawn rare bipartisan support in a polarized Congress. Geng said the US should “stop meddling” and warned China would take “strong measures” to counter the proposed Hong Kong bill. Millions have taken to the streets of Hong Kong, initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to allow extraditions to the authoritarian Chinese mainland. Republican House member Mario Diaz-Balart said the Act ensures “that the special relationship with Hong Kong endures only as long as Hong Kong retains the autonomy and freedoms that justify that special relationship.”The House also approved, by a similar voice vote, a related bill to prohibit the export of certain non-lethal crowd control items such as tear gas to Hong Kong. Prominent Hong Kong activists testified before a congressional hearing last month in support of the legislation approved by the House on Tuesday.

Source: Pakistan Today October 16, 2019 02:15 UTC