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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement on the 36th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong in Beijing. This United Nations-registered treaty committed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to afford Hong Kong with “a high degree of autonomy,” allow local elections, and provide legal protections for the rights and freedoms of all residents. 
 
“In 1984, Beijing promised that the social, economic, and political conditions that made Hong Kong far freer than mainland China would remain unchanged for 50 years, but after only 23 years, the Chinese Communist Party has crushed Hong Kong’s long-cherished freedom and autonomy,” Rubio said. “On the anniversary of the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, we should remember the long trail of Beijing’s broken promises. The CCP will continue to violate any agreement, treaty, or law necessary to maintain or expand its power. Any future administration should be clear-eyed about the futility of entering into future agreements with the CCP.  The U.S. must continue to stand with Hong Kongers and advance policies that counter the CCP’s aggression and promote Hong Kong’s autonomy.”
 
Rubio is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations’ Subcommittee that oversees human rights and is a member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.