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, delivered opening remarks at a hearing focused on democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. The session examined developments five years after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed its National Security Law on Hong Kong.
Curtis began by noting the subcommittee’s jurisdiction includes global human rights and democracy issues. He stated that he and Ranking Member Kaine would be holding hearings this Congress addressing these topics.
“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,” Curtis said.
He highlighted further restrictions enacted last year with the “Article 23” law in Hong Kong. According to Curtis, this expansion introduces new offenses such as “external interference” and “state secrets,” which carry penalties including life imprisonment. He emphasized that the hearing is about more than marking an anniversary; it concerns individuals affected by these changes.
“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,” Curtis said.
He reaffirmed bipartisan support for human rights globally: “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.”
Curtis cited examples such as Jimmy Lai, a prominent figure who has spent over four years largely in solitary confinement. Authorities have reportedly taken measures to prevent images of Lai from reaching outside audiences.
“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,” Curtis continued.
Curtis noted his legislative response through introduction of the Hong Kong Sanctions Act while serving in the House. He also mentioned re-introducing this bill in the Senate alongside Senators Sullivan and Merkley after prosecutors in Hong Kong responded with a warrant for his arrest.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Reflecting on past visits to Hong Kong, Curtis described how he witnessed its transformation from a city known for freedom into one playing a role in international financial misconduct such as sanctions evasion and money laundering. In response to these concerns regarding illicit financial activities linked to adversaries like Russia through Hong Kong networks, Curtis has introduced legislation called 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,” Curtis concluded.
Witness testimony related to this hearing is available online.
