China warns of countermeasures after Prez Trump signs bill support Hong Kong protesters

China has warned of countermeasures, yesterday, 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.  China accused the US of harbouring sinister intentions as the Bill would require the State Department to certify once a year that Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous. This will make Hong Kong retain its special US trading consideration - a status that helps its economy. 

 

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 added.  The Chinese Foreign Ministry said, this is a severe interference in Hong Kong's affairs, which are China's internal affairs.

 

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.  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.