National security law: Beijing vows to retaliate after Donald Trump ends special treatment for Hong Kong and targets officials with sanctions
- US president signs act aimed at punishing Chinese and city officials deemed to undermine established freedoms in wake of national security law
- Hong Kong government says measures will cause ‘very serious damage to American companies and citizens’
Beijing vowed to retaliate with tit-for-tat sanctions while Hong Kong was left counting the cost on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending the city’s preferential trading status and a law to penalise mainland Chinese and local officials deemed to have trampled on Hongkongers’ rights.
“Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China. No special privileges, no special economic treatment, and no export of sensitive technologies,” Trump said.
Trump’s executive order will also put an end to preferential treatment for Hong Kong SAR passport holders over those with mainland Chinese passports entering the US, as well as suspend an agreement between the city and Washington over the surrender of fugitive offenders.
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Trump signs Hong Kong Autonomy Act, ends city’s preferential trade status over national security law
The Hong Kong government issued a statement on Wednesday night saying it would cooperate with Beijing’s countermeasures against the US.
“We will not let US hegemony get its way,” it said. “The US side unveiled these measures in defiance of international law on the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy.