United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he has signed an order to end special trade preferences for Hong Kong to pun...
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he has signed an order to end special trade preferences for Hong Kong to punish China’s “oppressive actions” against the former British colony. The president was referring to China’s decision to enact a new national security law for Hong Kong.
“Today I signed legislation, and an executive order to hold China accountable for its aggressive actions against the people of Hong Kong,” Trump told a news conference. “Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China – no special privileges, no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies.”
The president also said he has signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which was passed unanimously in the Congress earlier this month. “This law gives my administration powerful new tools to hold responsible the individuals and the entities involved in extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom,” Trump said. “Their freedom has been taken away; their rights have been taken away. And with it goes Hong Kong, in my opinion, because it will no longer be able to compete with free markets. A lot of people will be leaving Hong Kong.”
The bill approved by the US Congress will penalise banks doing business with Chinese officials who implement the new security law, according...
