On Wednesday, July 10th, the White House announced that President Biden has once again extended the “national emergency” declared for the situation in Hong Kong, revoking Hong Kong’s special trade status. This marks the fourth extension by the US government of the national emergency status for Hong Kong.
The White House announcement stated that President Biden has sent a letter to Congress extending the national emergency declared on July 14, 2020, by Executive Order 13936 regarding the situation in Hong Kong until after July 14, 2024.
The announcement mentioned that the situation in Hong Kong, including recent actions taken by the Chinese Communist Party that fundamentally undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy, continues to pose an extraordinary and significant threat to US national security, foreign policy, and economy. This threat largely emanates from outside the United States.
“Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue to implement the national emergency regarding the situation in Hong Kong as declared in Executive Order 13936,” said Biden.
This announcement will be published in the Federal Register.
On July 14, 2020, then-US President Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, passed by both houses of Congress and issued the Executive Order 13936 on normalizing Hong Kong. This executive order held the Chinese Communist Party accountable for suppressing the people of Hong Kong and prepared sanctions against officials from mainland China and Hong Kong who undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy. The order recognized the threat posed by China’s actions in Hong Kong and declared a national emergency in response, suspending or revoking special treatment granted to Hong Kong under US law.
At the time, Trump stated at the White House, “Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China. No special privileges, no special economic treatment, and no sensitive technology exports.”
In response to the White House’s fourth announcement of extending the “national emergency declaration regarding the situation in Hong Kong,” the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s office in Hong Kong strongly expressed dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Thursday, defending the Hong Kong National Security Law and opposing the continued unilateral sanctions on Hong Kong by the US based on domestic law.
On May 30, this year, three judges designated by the National Security Law convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong of “conspiracy to subvert state power,” prompting strong condemnation from the European and Australian governments, US senators, and human rights organizations. The US State Department responded on May 31, stating that the US would impose new visa restrictions on Chinese Communist Party and Hong Kong officials and condemning the politically motivated sentencing, urging Hong Kong authorities to release the individuals immediately.
On March 22, the Hong Kong government swiftly enacted Article 23 of the legislation, to which US Secretary of State Blinken issued a statement expressing that Article 23 further harms the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, with broad implications for Hong Kong residents, American citizens, and businesses operating in Hong Kong.
“We, like other countries, are concerned that Hong Kong authorities may seek to use new legislation beyond their borders in their continued transnational suppression efforts and condemn their intimidating, harassing, and limiting behavior on the freedom of speech of US citizens and residents,” he said.
Blinken stated that the implementation of the new law and its opaque provisions would damage Hong Kong’s reputation as an international business hub.