China had undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy so fundamentally, Pompeo said, that he could not support its recertification for its special pre-1997 trading status. Firing tear gas, water cannon and pepper pellets, Hong Kong police made 360 arrests on Wednesday as thousands of people protested against the bill. He said he certified to Congress that Hong Kong no longer warrants treatment under US laws “in the same manner as US laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1997,” when Britain ended its administration of the territory and returned it to China. “It is now clear that China is modeling Hong Kong after itself,” Pompeo said. China says no threat to Hong Kong autonomySpecifics of Hong Kong’s security bill remain unclear and will not be enacted until later.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 27, 2020 23:37 UTC