It only mention Visa for non violent arrest.
Under Section 206.
“(c) Cooperation With Like-Minded Countries.—The Secretary of State shall contact appropriate representatives of other democratic countries, particularly those who receive a large number of applicants for student and employment visas from Hong Kong—
“(1) to inform them of the United States policy regarding arrests for participation in nonviolent protests in Hong Kong; and
“(2) to encourage them to take similar steps to ensure the rights of nonviolent protesters are protected from discrimination due to the actions of the Government of Hong Kong and of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.”.
lol, you are WAY off with the law.
Actually, the one that the US senate passed is not actually a law, but rather an amendment for Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. The amendment applies to the act as per United States Congress treatment regarding Hong Kong
The Original 1992 act regarding travel and visa issuant are as follow
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter66&edition=prelim
§5731. Reporting requirement
(a) In general
Not later than March 31, 2019, and annually thereafter through 2024, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on conditions in Hong Kong of interest to the United States. This report shall cover (in the case of the initial report) the period since October 5, 1992, or (in the case of subsequent reports) the period since the most recent report pursuant to this section and shall describe—
(1) significant developments in United States relations with Hong Kong, including a description of agreements that have entered into force between the United States and Hong Kong;
(2) other matters, including developments related to the change in the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, affecting United States interests in Hong Kong or United States relations with Hong Kong;
(3) the nature and extent of United States-Hong Kong cultural, education, scientific, and academic exchanges, both official and unofficial;
(4) the laws of the United States with respect to which the application of section 5721(a) of this title has been suspended pursuant to section 5722(a) of this title or with respect to which such a suspension has been terminated pursuant to section 5722(d) of this title, and the reasons for the suspension or termination, as the case may be;
(5) treaties and other international agreements with respect to which the President has made a determination described in the last sentence of section 5721(b) of this title, and the reasons for each such determination;
(6) significant problems in cooperation between Hong Kong and the United States in the area of export controls;
(7) the development of democratic institutions in Hong Kong; and
(8) the nature and extent of Hong Kong's participation in multilateral forums.
2019 amendment for Hong Kong Policy act would amend the previous legislature with the following
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3289/text
“SEC. 206. Treatment of Hong Kong applicants for visas to enter the United States.
“It is the sense of Congress that applications for visas to enter the United States, including for work or study, which are submitted by otherwise qualified applicants from Hong Kong should not be denied solely on the basis of politically-motivated arrest, detention, or other adverse government action taken against such applicants as a result of the participation by such applicants in protest activities, and that the Secretary of State should make efforts to implement such policy, ensure consular officers make determinations in accordance with such policy, and coordinate with representatives of other countries to encourage the adoption of compatible policies.”.
22 U.S.C. 5731) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking “2024” and inserting “2027”;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(9) China’s ability to limit Hong Kong’s autonomy with respect to the treaties, international agreements, and United States laws specified in section 205(a)(2) as result of actions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China that are inconsistent with its commitments under the Basic Law or the Joint Declaration;
“(10) the limitations to Hong Kong’s autonomy with respect to the treaties, international agreements, and United States laws specified in section 205(a)(2) resulting from actions by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region that are inconsistent with its commitments under the Basic Law or the Joint Declaration;
“(11) the specific impacts to any areas of cooperation between the United States and Hong Kong as a result of limits, whether self-imposed or otherwise, to Hong Kong’s autonomy, including any failures of the Hong Kong Government to fulfill obligations with the United States under the treaties, international agreements, and United States laws specified in section 205(a)(2);
“(12) the specific actions taken by the United States Government to mitigate the negative impact to United States interests of limitations, whether self-imposed or otherwise, to Hong Kong’s autonomy or any failures to fulfill obligations with the United States under the treaties, international agreements, and United States laws specified in section 205(a)(2); and
“(13) whether the rescission of special treatment under any particular treaties, international agreements, or particular laws of the United States, or any provisions thereof would contribute to further erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy.”.
Basically in the 1992 act, it indicated that the US visa application procedure and/or quota between Hong Kong and China are to be separated. And the 2019 act stipulated that any Hong Kong applicant to Study and/or Employment visa should not be denied solely on the basis of politically-motivated arrest, detention, or other adverse government action taken against such applicants as a result of the participation by such applicants in protest activities.
This act also called for like-minded countries to not to discriminate any criminal record or sentence on Hong Kong Applicant on the account of attending Political Activities.
The US were never offering free visa (not free but without requirement) for student in Hong Kong that had participate in protest, violence or otherwise.
