The US has announced it will no longer treat Hong Kong as autonomous for trade and economic purposes, as China prepares to impose a new security law that would drastically limit civil liberties in the territory.
The US decision could have a serious impact on the Hong Kong economy, which has been used by Beijing as a portal for dealings with the outside world – particularly if its financial sector is hit by sanctions as a result of the move.
Beijing is preparing to impose a highly restrictive anti-sedition law on Hong Kong on Thursday, bypassing its legislature, and threatening the freedoms granted its citizens under the “one country, two systems” policy.
In response, on Wednesday, Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, announced that the US would no longer maintain special trade relations with Hong Kong or consider it an autonomous region, as it has done since the 1997 handover by the UK to China. Read more…
