H.R. 2522: To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as “Jimmy Lai Way”, and for other purposes.

This bill, known as H.R. 2522, aims to recognize the contributions of Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong democracy advocate, and to draw attention to his ongoing imprisonment under politically motivated charges. The bill includes several key components:

1. Condemning Imprisonment and Expressing Concerns

The bill begins by condemning the arbitrary detention and treatment of Jimmy Lai, who has been imprisoned since December 2020. It highlights several findings:

• Lai has been sentenced on various charges criticized as politically motivated, including fraud related to his advocacy for democracy.
• He is reportedly held in solitary confinement and has faced severe restrictions on his treatment, including limited access to medical care.
• The closure of his newspaper, Apple Daily, in 2021 is noted as an example of the repression of media and free speech in Hong Kong.
• The bill cites international concern over Lai's treatment, including calls from United Nations experts for his release.

2. Sense of Congress

The bill expresses the sentiment of Congress regarding Lai's situation:

• It condemns his trial as unjust and calls for his immediate release.
• It reaffirms the importance of freedom of speech and the rights of media professionals.
• Congress urges U.S. officials to advocate for Lai’s release and to consider financial sanctions against those responsible for his prosecution.
• It encourages international pressure on the Chinese government to respect human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

3. Designating “Jimmy Lai Way”

The bill also proposes to officially designate a specific area in the District of Columbia as “Jimmy Lai Way.”

• The area affected is between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest.
• The address 1520 18th Street Northwest will be renamed to 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest.
• New street signs indicating this designation will be created and installed in the relevant areas.

4. Mail Delivery Recognitions

Moreover, the bill expresses that the United States Postal Service should recognize and properly deliver mail addressed to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office located at “1 Jimmy Lai Way” in San Francisco and New York, using the appropriate postal codes.

Relevant Companies

• AAPL - Apple Inc.: The company could be impacted due to its historical connections with Jimmy Lai, specifically regarding services or products that may have been used by his media ventures.