"US Nears Revoking Hong Kong's Special Status, Citing Loss of High Autonomy (Comprehensive Report 2)"

by Paek Jongmin

Published 28 May.2020 03:10(KST)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reported to Congress on the 27th (local time) that Hong Kong is not enjoying a high degree of autonomy from China. This is seen as indicating the imminent revocation of Hong Kong's special status due to China's push for the Hong Kong National Security Law.

In a press release on the same day, Secretary Pompeo stated, "The State Department is required to assess the autonomy of the territory (Hong Kong) from China under the Hong Kong Policy Act, and after careful review, I reported to Congress today that Hong Kong no longer warrants the same treatment under U.S. law as it did before July 1997."

He added, "A reasonable person could not argue that Hong Kong today maintains a high degree of autonomy from China."

Secretary Pompeo described the National People's Congress (NPC) of China’s move to enact the Hong Kong National Security Law as a disastrous decision. China is expected to pass the Hong Kong National Security Law at the NPC on the 28th.

The United States has warned that if China pushes forward with enacting the Hong Kong National Security Law, it may revoke the special status granted to Hong Kong in areas such as economy and trade.

Bloomberg News described Secretary Pompeo’s announcement as "a measure that could have a significant impact on the special status held by Hong Kong."