U.S. House Speaker Pelosi backs bill focused towards protecting Hong Kong rights

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime critic of China’s human rights record, on Wednesday threw her influence behind bipartisan legislation to require the Trump administration to certify Beijing is maintaining its special treatment of Hong Kong.

U.S. lawmakers’ transfer to protect the “one country, two systems” relationship that mainland China has with Hong Kong, which formerly was under British control, comes amid massive demonstrations in Hong Kong against a proposed extradition law.

“The legislation says we not any longer assume that China is working under one country, two systems,” Pelosi, a Democrat, said in remarks to reporters during a breakfast sponsored by your Christian Science Monitor.

She noted that under current U.S. law, Hong Kong is treated as being an “economic zone” with special privileges not enjoyed by mainland China.

Pelosi announced the legislation would want the Trump administration to document the fact that the “economic zone” arrangement still is in force for the special arrangement to keep on.

“If they’re just China, chances don’t get the privileges,” Pelosi said.

In see your face of a massive public backlash in Hong Kong to a possible change in extradition law, Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam has place measure on hold. But protesters are actually demanding that they resign and also that the measure be formally withdrawn.

Pelosi known as the large demonstrations in Hong Kong “an incredible sight to behold” adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping is actually “really taking China backward when it comes to repression.”

She said that in the extradition proposal which was floated, people arrested in Hong Kong might possibly be tried around the mainland. “They’re able to cook up any charge on someone, including journalists; 5,000 Americans who sadly are there engaging.”

Pelosi did not say when she would try to advance the legislation with the House. The exact same measure may be crafted through the Senate, she said.