Yes, Hong Kong is desperate for improvement in human rights. Unfortunately, America is incapable of helping (“ The US is worried about unrest in Hong Kong? That’s rich ”, November 24). The recent bill, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act , that was passed by the US Congress calls for sanctions against officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong. It is quite obvious these American politicians have double standards. While they condemn abusers of human rights in Hong Kong, if any, these policymakers have abused and punished the bottom 80 per cent of Americans by creating one of the worst wealth gaps in the world and stunting middle-class income growth for about 40 years. The human rights that the bottom 80 per cent of Hongkongers desperately need are their rights to: (a) food on the table (b) affordable housing at a minimum of 150 sq ft per person (c) good and affordable health care (d) good education and upward mobility for their children. Middle-class Hong Kong areas record huge turnouts as voters want voice heard Before lecturing other countries on human rights and freedom, American politicians should prove to the world that American democracy and capitalism work for all Americans, especially the middle class. By continuing to ignore the pain and suffering of its own middle class, America will eventually squeeze the middle class out of existence, just like in Hong Kong. K.W. Lau, Jiangmen, Guangdong
