US Prez signs bills into law in support of Hong Kong protesters

US President Donald Trump has signed two bills into law,  supporting the Hong Kong protesters. The first one would require the State Department to certify once a year that Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to retain its special U.S. trading consideration. Under that designation, the city is not subject to the tariffs that have been levied on China.

 

The second bill would bar the sale of munitions such as tear gas and rubber bullets to Hong Kong police.

   

In a statement, President Trump said the bills were being enacted in the hope that leaders and Representatives of China and



Hong Kong would be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.

 

Hong Kong’s government has expressed regret at the U.S. laws and said they obviously interfere in the city’s internal affairs.

   

China also denounced the legislation as gross interference in its affairs and a violation of international law. At a media briefing in Beijing, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said if the U.S. insists on going down, what he called, a wrong path, China will take strong counter measures.