Sec. Pompeo tells Congress Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China

Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared on Wednesday that he informed Congress that the city of Hong Kong is “no longer autonomous from China.”

Today, I reported to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, given facts on the ground. The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 27, 2020

The remarks comes days after the Chinese government moved to assert sweeping authority over Hong Kong that has caused major protests.

The proposed law from China’s National People’s Congress could bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and target acts of rebellion against the central government in Beijing.

Under pro-democracy legislation passed late last year, the State Department was required to provide a declaration on Hong Kong's autonomy. The legislation also allows the President to impose sanctions on foreigners who are undermining "Hong Kong's fundamental freedoms and autonomy."

"No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground," Pompeo said in a statement.

The announcement could make the Trump administration revoke special trading status to the Hong Kong economy, which is exempt from tariffs imposed on Chinese imports and mandates that the free exchange of Hong Kong dollars.