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Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

Introduced: February 27, 2015 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 20, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Mar 20, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Feb 27, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 27, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of State to report to Congress on conditions in Hong Kong that are of U.S. interest by March 31, 2015, and annually thereafter for 10 years or until the Secretary certifies that Hong Kong has held free and fair elections for 2 consecutive Chief Executive and 2 consecutive Legislative Council periods.

Directs the Secretary to certify to Congress annually whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify separate treatment different from that accorded to China in any new laws, agreements, treaties, or arrangements entered into between the United States and Hong Kong.

Authorizes the President to waive this certification requirement if: (1) waiver is in the U.S. national interest, and (2) Congress is given a justification of the waiver on or before the date it takes effect.

What's happening now March 20, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3469 Related bill Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2016
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1159: Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1159/
MLA
"H.R. 1159: Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1159/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1159, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1159/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1159: Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1159/)
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