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Public Law116th CongressInternational Affairs
H.R. 7440Became Law

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Jul 14, 2020)

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

What just happenedJul 14, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-149.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-30](D-CA)Sponsor
11 cosponsors4 D7 R
Read on Congress.gov
11cosponsors5committees33actions1amendments3related bills23subjects
  1. Jul 14, 2020President

    Became Public Law No: 116-149.

  2. Jul 14, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 116-149.

  3. Jul 14, 2020President

    Signed by President.

  4. Jul 14, 2020BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Jul 14, 2020Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

    Trade Subcommittee
  6. Jul 2, 2020Floor

    Presented to President.

  7. Jul 2, 2020President28000

    Presented to President.

  8. Jul 2, 2020Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  9. Jul 2, 2020Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)

  10. Jul 2, 2020Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)

  11. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  12. Jul 1, 2020FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Jul 1, 2020FloorH37100

    On passage Passed without objection.

  14. Jul 1, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

  15. Jul 1, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)

  16. Jul 1, 2020FloorH30200

    Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

  17. Jul 1, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Rules discharged.

    Rules Committee
  18. Jul 1, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Rules discharged.

    Rules Committee
  19. Jul 1, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

    Ways and Means Committee
  20. Jul 1, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

    Ways and Means Committee
  21. Jul 1, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Financial Services discharged.

    Financial Services Committee
  22. Jul 1, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Financial Services discharged.

    Financial Services Committee
  23. Jul 1, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  24. Jul 1, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  25. Jul 1, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  26. Jul 1, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  27. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Rules Committee
  28. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Ways and Means Committee
  29. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Financial Services Committee
  30. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Judiciary Committee
  31. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  32. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  33. Jul 1, 2020IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawJul 14, 202049

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Passed SenateJul 2, 202055

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Introduced in HouseJul 1, 2020

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Passed HouseJul 1, 202053

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Hong Kong Autonomy Act — Informed