WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Senate President Pro Tempore, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Senate Republican Deputy Whip, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today led a bipartisan group of 23 Senators in calling on President Obama to speak out publicly in support of the people of Hong Kong and their right to full democracy.

In their letter to the President, the Senators urge the Administration to “take demonstrable, meaningful steps to help ensure that Beijing maintains its commitments to the people of Hong Kong.”

“The Administration should be speaking out more forcefully on behalf of the people of Hong Kong who are trying to exercise self-determination,” Wicker said. “This is a matter of importance not only to those people seeking to be free but also to the American people, who share these democratic values. We should not miss this opportunity to be on the right side of history.”

“The people of Hong Kong have sent a strong message to the world that they want the right to choose their leaders to be respected,” Leahy said. “The Administration should voice U.S. support for full democracy in Hong Kong and make clear that it is in the Chinese Government’s interest to abide by its commitment to ‘one country, two systems.’”

“The United States needs to stand with the people of the Hong Kong in their effort to achieve full democracy,” Rubio said. “Violent attacks and intimidation are the tools of repression and should have no place on Hong Kong’s streets if the authorities are truly interested in dialogue. Free people around the world need to speak out for those in Hong Kong who want nothing more than the rights they have been promised.”

Wicker, Leahy, and Rubio were joined in their letter by Senators Kelly Ayotte, R-N.J., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Bob Casey, D-Penn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Carl Levin, D-Mich., Mary Landrieu, D-La., John McCain, R-Ariz., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., John Thune, R-S.D., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

The full text of the letter:

October 9, 2014

The Honorable Barack Obama

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

We write to you regarding the United States’ policy towards Hong Kong.

As democratically elected members of the United States Senate, we strongly support the Hong Kong people's aspiration for universal suffrage and full democracy.  Hong Kong’s economic prosperity and position as Asia’s “world city” is rooted in fundamental rights, including freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression, and the press.

The people of Hong Kong should be applauded and supported for their remarkable courage and determination despite extraordinarily challenging circumstances in recent days.  The “Umbrella Movement” has shown the world the inspirational power of free expression in defense of the basic right to choose one’s leaders freely.  In the wake of the Chinese Communist Party’s public threats and the recent physical attacks against peaceful demonstrators, we encourage you to speak out personally in support of the Hong Kong people’s democratic aspirations.

The United States and Hong Kong have enjoyed a strong relationship with close cultural, economic, and financial ties for over two centuries.  We believe that at this critical time it is appropriate and necessary for the United States to help advance universal suffrage, full democracy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong:

• This December marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which stipulated that Hong Kong would be governed by “One Country, Two Systems” until at least 2047.  At the request of the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom, the United States expressed support for the Joint Declaration as an instrument of international law.

• The United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 [P.L. 102-383] states that it is United States policy to help preserve Hong Kong’s unique status and to support democratization in Hong Kong.  As you know, the Act also authorizes you to suspend trade and economic provisions should Beijing not provide sufficient autonomy for Hong Kong as outlined by the Joint Declaration.

Beijing’s backsliding on its commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration poses a significant threat to Hong Kong’s position as a center of international trade and finance and adds to concerns about China’s commitment as a responsible participant in the international system.  Over the past week, the people of Hong Kong have reminded the world what is at stake.  We urge you and your administration to take demonstrable, meaningful steps to help ensure that Beijing maintains its commitments to the people of Hong Kong.

Sincerely,

Senator Patrick Leahy

Senator Roger Wicker

Senator Marco Rubio

Senator Kelly Ayotte

Senator Cory Booker

Senator Barbara Boxer

Senator Richard Burr

Senator Ben Cardin

Senator Bob Casey

Senator Thad Cochran

Senator John Cornyn

Senator Ted Cruz

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Al Franken

Senator Lindsey Graham

Senator Jim Inhofe

Senator Carl Levin

Senator Mary Landrieu

Senator John McCain

Senator Jack Reed

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Senator John Thune

Senator Elizabeth Warren