US congressional report calls for bilateral probe into how China is upholding Hong Kong Basic Law

Annual write-up cites concerns over Hong Kong’s universal suffrage, press freedom and academic freedom

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Pro-democracy lawmakers signalling their intention to vote against Beijing-backed political reform in June. Photo: AP

Published: 11:49am, 19 Nov 2015Updated: 11:49am, 19 Nov 2015

A joint US-UK investigation into China’s adherence to the Basic Law regarding Hong Kong since the city’s handover in 1997 was urged by a commission on US-China affairs in a report to the US Congress yesterday.

The annual report compiled by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted Hong Kong’s political turmoil over universal suffrage, press freedom and academic freedom. It urged the US congress to “engage parliamentarians from the United Kingdom in an interparliamentary review” over whether China had upheld promises made in the Basic Law “with specific attention to the rule of law, progress in achieving universal suffrage, and press freedom”.

“The United States and Hong Kong share many values, including respect for rule of law and for civil liberties,” the report stated. “To bolster Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, the US government encourages Beijing and Hong Kong to continue to work together to further Hong Kong’s democratic development in accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the people of Hong Kong.”

READ MORE: Hong Kong press freedom index falls amid attacks on journalists, self-censorship

In its 27 pages dedicated to Hong Kong, the annual report highlighted the failed passage of electoral reform set out under Beijing’s rigid parameters as leading to even more fractured and polarised views on the issue.

The report also laid out serious concerns over the erosion of press freedom as Beijing wielded an “enormous economical and political influence in Hong Kong” and had exerted indirect pressure on the media, leading to more serious self-censorship, the report stated.

It was also reported that Hong Kong’s press freedom continued a 10-year downward trend, with the city’s ranking dropping from 61 to 70 among 180 countries, according to international organisation Reporters Without Borders. Incidents of violence against journalists had also not been dealt with, the report said.

The University of Hong Kong pro-vice chancellor appointment postponement debacle was noted as well. Academic freedom had been challenged, the report stated, with the controversy of alleged government interference “only one example of Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong academia”.