U.S. House Passes Hong Kong Rights Act

It requires U.S. President to sanction those responsible for rights abuses in city; China slams the Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Bill on Tuesday sought by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong that aims to defend civil rights in the semi-autonomous territory, prompting an angry response from China.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which will now move to the Senate before it can become law, has drawn rare bipartisan support in Congress.

The law would end the Hong Kong-U.S. special trading status unless the State Department certifies annually that city authorities are respecting human rights and the rule of law. China expressed “strong indignation” over the passing of the Act, which also requires the U.S. President to identify and sanction people who are responsible for the erosion of autonomy and serious abuses of rights in the city.