The US House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill supporting human rights in Hong Kong with an overwhelming majority of 417 votes in favor and 1 vote against.

The "Democracy and Human Rights Hong Kong" bill was approved after a vote in the US House of Representatives on November 20, thereby paving the way for diplomatic actions and economic sanctions against the special zone. A day earlier, the US Senate also passed the bill. Next, it will be forwarded to President Donald Trump for review. The White House owner has not yet said whether to sign it or not.

Under the bill, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is responsible for certifying that Hong Kong maintains its autonomy so that the special zone can enjoy preferential trade from the US, maintaining the role of the world's financial center. The bill also allows sanctions on officials who are considered human rights abuses in Hong Kong.

The US House of Representatives also agreed to pass a bill banning the export of some non-lethal crowd control weapons to Hong Kong police, including tear gas and pepper spray, rubber bullets and electric guns. The bill was also passed by the Senate on November 19.

China's Foreign Ministry yesterday summoned the right of US ambassador William Klein to hand a note of "strong opposition" to the US Senate's adoption of the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights bill. Beijing criticized the US Senate's decision, saying it would take the necessary steps to protect national sovereignty and security.

The US Congress's swift passage of the bill appears to be fueled by the recent escalating tension in Hong Kong as protesters occupied the university, then concentrated in Hong Kong Polytechnic University ( PolyU) from November 17.

Police have deployed forces around the school for more than four days and used rubber bullets, tear gas, and tornadoes to prevent people from escaping without handing them over. About 1,100 protesters were arrested at PolyU on November 18 and 19. 800 people left the school to "surrender" to the police call, but about 100 remained inside the PolyU.

Hong Kong protests initially to protest the extradition bill that allows criminals to be brought to the jurisdictional areas where the Special Zone has not signed an extradition treaty, including mainland China. Although the special government announced the withdrawal of the bill, protesters still took to the streets to make other claims, including investigating the use of force by police and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam resigned.