Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues, today gave the following opening remarks at a hearing examining the Status of Democracy and Human Rights in Hong Kong, Five Years After the PRC’s Judicial Takeover.
“First, a note that the full title for this Subcommittee is ‘Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.’”
“While the Subcommittee focus is on the Western Hemisphere, we also have jurisdiction over global human rights and democracy, and Ranking Member Kaine and I will be holding some hearings this Congress on the topic of global human rights and democracy such as this one.”
“Five years ago, the Chinese Communist Party imposed the so-called National Security Law on Hong Kong—an act that marked the end of “One Country, Two Systems” and culminated in the full-scale dismantling of Hong Kong’s freedoms, rule of law, and judicial 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. This hearing is not just about an anniversary—it’s about the people whose lives have been reshaped by the loss of liberty, and the warning their story sends to the rest of the world.”
“We meet today to reaffirm a bipartisan truth: human rights do not end where the reach of the CCP begins. The United States 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 has been thrown into uncertainty by the Chinese Communist Party. In the years since 2020, I’ve watched as courageous Hong Kongers have been arrested, exiled, and silenced. Courageous Hong Kongers like Jimmy Lai prove the CCP’s fear of free voices. Mr. Lai has spent the last 4½ years largely 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. Since then, guards have used umbrellas, tarps, and even boarded-up windows to keep the world from seeing him.”
“I’ve watched as judges—once seen as guardians of an impartial legal system—have become enforcers of Beijing’s repression. Let’s be honest: what was once an impartial legal system is now being used as a political tool—twisting the law not to protect rights, but to erase them. That is why I introduced the Hong Kong Sanctions Act in the House, to push for sanctions on those in the judicial system responsible for the deterioration of freedom. As if to prove my point, Hong Kong prosecutors responded to this bill by pushing a warrant for my arrest in Hong Kong. I am proud to have joined with Senator Sullivan and my fellow Subcommittee Member, Senator Merkley, in re-introducing this bill in the Senate.”
“And in the face of this, I have a message for those who believe threats and arrest warrants from 8,000 miles away will intimidate us into silence: They won’t. We will not be silenced.
“The louder the CCP tries to shout us down, the firmer our resolve becomes to defend freedom in Hong Kong, and anywhere it is under siege.”
“Years ago, I spent time in Hong Kong and saw firsthand a city alive with energy, enterprise, and freedom. Now, instead of a beacon of liberty, Hong Kong has become a key node in a global network that assists Russia and other adversaries in evading sanctions, money laundering, and circumventing export controls. To crack down on Hong Kong’s status as a money launderer and sanctions evasion hub, I have 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.”
These remarks have been lightly edited for clarity. Witness testimony is available here.