Merkley Denounces Unjust Sentencing of Hong Kong Democracy Advocate Jimmy Lai

Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley-a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)-issued this statement following the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, an entrepreneur and democracy advocate in Hong Kong who has been imprisoned since 2020 under Beijing's National Security Law:

"Jimmy Lai's sentencing-for the 'crime' of journalism-should put to rest any illusion that the Chinese government will relent until it exercises total control over the people of Hong Kong.

"This sham trial, carried out via Hong Kong officials acting on China's behalf, is an attempt by the Chinese government to extinguish press freedom, an effort that will never succeed as long as there are people like Lai who are brave enough to risk everything to speak the truth.

"There can be no business as usual while the Chinese government continues its campaign of brutal oppression against Hong Kongers. That includes Beijing's reliance on institutions such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) to surveil political activism and push Chinese government propaganda in the United States. The path forward is clear: HKETOs cannot enjoy the privileges of diplomacy while operating as outposts of political repression.

"Republicans and Democrats must stand united in the defense of the people of Hong Kong. Passing my bipartisan Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act is a necessary tool to impose real consequences on China-including the potential removal of diplomatic privileges from HKETOs-as a meaningful response to destroying Hong Kong's autonomy. There is momentum to get this done, and the U.S. must signal unequivocally that Beijing's crackdown in Hong Kong is unacceptable. We will never abandon those fighting for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law."

As past Chair of the CECC and a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Merkley has led the charge to highlight the case of Lai and other pro-democracy advocates who have been the targets of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments' coordinated repression of free speech and democracy. He leads the bipartisan HKETO Certification Act with current CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator John Curtis (R-UT), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to crack down on the Chinese government-controlled HKETOs in the U.S.

Merkley previously held a hearing about political prisoners in Hong Kong, as well as threats and intimidation faced by Hong Kongers globally, which featured Sebastien Lai's plea for the international community to advocate for his father's release. In 2023, Merkley nominated Jimmy Lai for the Nobel Peace Prize.

###