“This act gives us a lot of hope.”AdvertisementPresident Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law on Wednesday, mandating an annual review of whether Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to justify its special trade status with the U.S. “I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump wrote in a statement. AdvertisementFor months leading up to local elections, Hong Kong and Beijing authorities had condemned protesters, speaking of a “silent majority” in Hong Kong that wished for an end to unrest and would ostensibly come out to vote for pro-establishment candidates last week. “Facts have proven that the United States is the biggest culprit in disrupting Hong Kong,” said the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of China’s State Council in a statement, which said “all Chinese, including Hong Kong people” were against the act. Special correspondent Ho Kilpatrick reported from Hong Kong and staff writer Su from Taipei.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 28, 2019 17:03 UTC