US voices concern over Beijing’s ‘increased intervention’ in Hong Kong, but will maintain special trading status
- Washington decision outlined in 2019 Hong Kong Policy Act Report
- Act has given Hong Kong special status to be treated separately from mainland China on matters of trade and economic policy since 1992
The United States has decided to carry on treating Hong Kong separately from the rest of China as a special trading partner, although it raised concerns the city’s autonomy has been “diminished” by what it characterised as increasing interference from Beijing.
In the latest report published on Thursday, Washington noted Beijing had taken a number of steps that appeared inconsistent with its commitment to allow Hong Kong to exercise a high degree of autonomy, as enshrined in the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution and the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
But the paper has drawn the ire of Beijing, with the Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong saying it stood firmly against US interference in local affairs through the “so-called report”.
The report stated: “The tempo of mainland central government intervention in Hong Kong affairs – and actions by the Hong Kong government consistent with mainland direction – increased, accelerating negative trends seen in previous periods.
