The recent passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act by the U.S. House of Representatives drew threats of unspecified “strong countermeasures” from Beijing if enacted by the entire Congress, according to an October 16th Bloomberg report.   A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned U.S. lawmakers to stop meddling “before falling off the edge of a cliff.” The Act subjects Hong Kong’s “special U.S. trading status to annual review and provides sanctions against officials deemed responsible for undermining its ‘fundamental freedoms and autonomy.’”

 Xi Jinping’s “broken bones” remark seems to answer Chairman Hyde’s question on the future for both Hong Kong and China -- the specter of authoritarianism and repression is in the air.   Hyde said back in 2004 to his Hong Kong audience that “I can assure you that the U.S. Congress will never abandon its commitment to the freedom and prosperity of Hong Kong nor fail to ensure that this remains a prism through which our relations with China as a whole are viewed.”  Hyde’s old colleagues in the House seem to be heeding his admonition of fifteen years ago to “watch carefully” the events unfolding in Hong Kong both for their human rights implications and for their indication of the aspirations of a rising China. 

Dennis P.  Halpin, a former Foreign Service Officer and Senior Congressional Staff, is a consultant on Asian issues.

Image: Reuters