BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order ending U.S. preferential treatment for Hong Kong, which means that the United States will treat Hong Kong in the same manner economically as the People’s Republic of China and the United States will suspend or terminate relevant agreements with Hong Kong:
“The executive order the president signed today means Hong Kong will now be treated like, and subject to the restrictions of, any other city in the People’s Republic of China. It is unfortunate, but necessary, for the president to use these measures in response to the alarming actions taken by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), especially the imposition of the national security law. The draconian law subjects the people of Hong Kong to the CCP’s authoritarianism, and puts every Hong Konger, as well as U.S. citizens in Hong Kong, at risk.
“The United States strongly condemns the CCP’s decision to abolish the autonomy of Hong Kong and infringe upon the promised rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people. It is deeply unfortunate that the CCP has decided to end Hong Kong’s autonomy after 23 years, when it agreed to 50 years under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. We continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong and support their rights to freedom, democracy, and prosperity.”
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