Thursday, July 16, 2020

US President Donald Trump has signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and an executive order in response to the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law, directing the removal of US restrictions on Hong Kong’s preferential treatment. Such as export licence exemptions, SAR passport (Special Administrative Region) concessions and proposed to individuals directly or indirectly involved in the formulation and implementation of theNational Security Law in Hong Kong and entities to impose sanctions. Trump said the decision was to punish China for its oppressive actions against the people of Hong Kong.

Trump said, “Hong Kong is now treated like mainland China, with no privileges, no special economic treatment, no [US] imports sensitive technology”. He predicted Hong Kong has lost its competitiveness in the free market.

Trump asked the departments to take action within 15 days, including revoking the US export license exemption granted to Hong Kong, prohibiting the export of defense articles to Hong Kong, revoking preferential treatment for HKSAR passport holders, preparing to suspend the extradition agreement with Hong Kong, and stopping the provision of training to Hong Kong police or other security forces.

The President’s Administrative Order also directs that sanctions be imposed on persons who are directly or indirectly involved in the enactment, implementation, and enforcement of national security laws in Hong Kong; oppressing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning persons; undermining the democratic process in Hong Kong; threatening the peace, stability, and autonomy of Hong Kong; restricting and punishing the exercise of freedom of assembly and expression by Hong Kong citizens; tightening press freedom; and committing human rights violations such as extraordinary renditions.

Participating entities, including governments, and individuals or organizations that provide assistance, such as funding or technology, may also be sanctioned. They and their families are barred from entering the United States, their assets in the United States may be frozen, and any transactions aimed at evading the ban are prohibited.

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issues a solemn statement strongly opposing the United States authorities’ attempts to sign the Hong Kong Autonomy Act passed by the United States Congress into law. The actions of the United States Government are a serious violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will fully cooperate with the Central Government’s countermeasures and will not let the hegemony of the United States succeed. The Hong Kong Government said that the SAR Government will carefully study whether the measures taken by the United States violate the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and will not rule out the possibility that the United States may take measures in accordance with the WTO rules, to take action to safeguard the interests of Hong Kong. It is also reiterated that the measures in the Bill and the Executive Order have no legal effect in relation to financial institutions in Hong Kong.

The Chinese Government expresses its resolute opposition to and strong condemnation of this and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China notes that the United States has obstructed Hong Kong’s implementation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Agreement. The attempt to implement the National Security Law will never succeed, and China will impose sanctions on the relevant United States personnel and entities. The United States Department of State urges the United States side to rectify its mistake and not to implement the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Act.

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