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Donald Trump[/caption]
Washington, Nov. 28 (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a bill that supports pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, a move that is bound to anger China.
The legislation proposes to impose sanctions on officials committing human rights violations against pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong. It was passed by both the chambers of the US Congress House of Representatives (417-1) and the Senate unanimously.
The 'Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019', which reaffirms and amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, specifies US policy towards Hong Kong, directs assessment of the political developments in Hong Kong, and other purposes.
"I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong," Trump, who had indicated earlier this week that he would not sign the bill, said in a statement.
"They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all," the president said.
Top American lawmakers, authors of the bill, applauded Trump for signing the legislation into law.
"The US now has new and meaningful tools to deter further influence and interference from Beijing into Hong Kong's internal affairs," Senator Marco Rubio said.
"Following last weekend's historic elections in Hong Kong that included record turnout, this new law could not be more timely in showing strong US support for Hong Kongers' long-cherished freedoms," Rubio said.
According to Senator Ben Cardin, the law sends a strong message to the demonstrators in Hong Kong, the government of Hong Kong, as well as the Communist Party of China that the United States was not only watching, but stands with demonstrators as they march for their autonomy, for their democracy and for their human rights.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch said this law made it abundantly clear that the US support the people of Hong Kong.
China threatens 'countermeasures' after Trump signs bills
China on Thursday accused the US of harbouring "sinister intentions" and warned of "countermeasures" after President Donald Trump signed a bill supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statements came just hours after Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 into law.
The bill would require the State Department to certify once a year that Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to retain its special US trading consideration a status that helps its economy.
Reacting to Trump's move, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said: "This is a severe interference in Hong Kong's affairs, which are China's internal affairs".
"It is also in serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese government and people firmly oppose such stark hegemonic acts," the statement said.
"The nature of this is extremely abominable, and harbours absolutely sinister intentions," the statement said.
"This act will only further expose the malicious and hegemonic nature of US intentions to the Chinese people, including our Hong Kong compatriots. And the Chinese people will only stand in greater solidarity. The US attempts are bound to fail," it said.
But at the same time, it sought to reassure that China would implement the 'one country two system' formula under which Hong Kong was handed over to China by Britain in 1997.
Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous territory which operates under the 'one country, two systems' principle a structure that grants the city's citizens some degree of financial and legal independence from the mainland.
Hong Kong has been shaken by massive, sometimes violent, protests initially organised to oppose a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. These protests have now turned into a wider movement for democratic reforms.
"The Chinese government is determined in opposing foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs," the statement said.
"We are determined in implementing the 'one country, two systems' principle and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. We urge the US not to continue going down the wrong path, or China will take countermeasures, and the US must bear all consequences," it said.
The legislation came at a time when China and the US reached an advanced stage of negotiations to sign phase one agreement to end a trade war between the two world's largest economies.
