The Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region Government has strongly protested the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was signed on Thursday by US President Donald Trump.
“These bills are a clear intervention in the internal affairs of Hong Kong, which is not necessary or justified, and which can only harm the relations and interests of the United States and Hong Kong”, – the government website said in a statement.
In addition to the law on the protection of human rights and democracy in Hong Kong, the American leader also signed a law banning the supply of certain police equipment. The new initiative adjusts another law – the US policy on Hong Kong from 1992 – and involves an annual review of trade relations with Hong Kong depending on its degree of autonomy, as well as sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in the administrative region.
Mass protests provoked by the consideration of the extradition bill have been held in Hong Kong since early June, during which time the police detained almost 4.5 thousand people, over 1.5 thousand were hospitalized due to injuries in the streets, more than 400 policemen were injured. After large-scale protests, Hong Kong authorities made concessions, and in early October, the bill was completely withdrawn. Nevertheless, the protests did not stop, they became small, but more fierce.