President Donald Trump had already found that Hong Kong was no longer eligible for further preferential treatment from the United States. The three agreements cover the surrender of refugees, transfers and convicted prisoners, as well as mutual exemptions from income from international shipping. The South China Morning Post writes: “The Human Rights and Democracy Act is an extension of the Hong Kong Policy Act, which has been the basis of the U.S. approach since 1992. The United States believes that human rights are universal and have a long-standing policy that China should respect its Hong Kong agreements” and that “it is the long-standing policy of the United States that China respects its commitments to protect human rights, as stated in the 1984 China-British Joint Declaration. , an international treaty submitted to the United Nations.” [22] The end of the agreements follows US President Donald Trump`s order last month to end Hong Kong`s special status under U.S. law to punish China for what he called “oppressive actions” against the former British colony. The Hong Kong government said the U.S. decision to terminate the agreements “shows a lack of respect for bilateral and multilateral ism under the current government and should be condemned by the international community.” WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or denounced three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong on extraditions and tax exemptions. “The termination of the agreements increases the operating costs of the shipping companies involved, particularly U.S. companies, as they will be subject to double taxation.
It would hinder the development of the maritime sector between Hong Kong and the United States and would not interest anyone,” said a Hong Kong government spokesman. The U.S. foreign policy toward Hong Kong, based on the desire to promote Hong Kong`s prosperity, autonomy and way of life, is outlined in the US-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. It foresees that the United States would continue to deter Hong Kong from the People`s Republic of China, even after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, which marked the end of British rule. The United States has considerable economic and political interests in Hong Kong.
