Blinken reaffirms Trump-era ruling that Hong Kong lacks autonomy

Biden administration continues tough policy of Trump administration towards China on former British colony.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reaffirmed a determination made last year by the Trump administration that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous and therefore remains undeserving of special treatment by the United States. In a notice sent to Congress, Blinken said China had continued to “dismantle” Hong Kong’s autonomy since his predecessor, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, first made the determination in May 2020. As a result, Blinken said, the former British colony does not warrant US trade and financial perks it had enjoyed since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 with a pledge from Beijing that it would enjoy significant autonomy for 50 years.