White House prepares response to China's Hong Kong crackdown

Washington | US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) that the United States was working on a strong response to China's planned national security legislation for Hong Kong and it would be announced before the end of the week

China's parliament is expected to approve a proposed security law that would reduce Hong Kong's separate legal status on Thursday, calling into question the special economic status the territory currently enjoys under US law.

At a White House news briefing, Mr Trump was asked if he planned sanctions against China over Hong Kong and if he intended to put restrictions on visas for students and researchers from China.

"We're doing something now. I think you'll find it very interesting. I'll be talking about it over the next couple of days," he replied.

Pressed if this would include sanctions, he said: "No, it's something you're going to be hearing about . . . before the end of the week, very powerfully I think."

Mr Trump did not elaborate, but earlier White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said he was displeased by the proposed security law and found it "hard to see how Hong Kong can remain a financial hub if China takes over".

Asked if this might mean an end to special economic treatment Washington affords to Hong Kong that has enabled it to maintain its position as a global financial centre, Ms McEnany said she had nothing to announce as to the precise response.

Mr Trump's economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, earlier called Beijing's actions "very disturbing".

"China is making a big mistake, frankly," he said.

Mr Kudlow said Washington would welcome back any American companies from Hong Kong or China's mainland. "We will do what we can for full expensing and pay the cost of moving if they return their supply chains and their production to the United States," he said.

Trump administration officials and lawmakers have been exploring ways to encourage US firms to move supply chains for critical products back to the United States from China amid steadily worsening ties and bitter recriminations over the coronavirus pandemic, which began in China.

Proposals discussed so far include tax breaks, subsidies including a potential $US25 billion ($37.6 billion) "reshoring fund" and new local content rules.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is due to release a congressionally mandated assessment on whether Hong Kong enjoys sufficient autonomy to justify continued special economic treatment, said last week the legislation would be the "death knell" for the territory's autonomy.

If the State Department decertifies the territory, it would fall to Trump to decide whether to end some, all or none of the privileges Hong Kong currently enjoys.

Mr Trump has previously warned of a strong reaction and national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the legislation could lead to US sanctions and threaten Hong Kong's status as a financial hub.

Separately, the US House of Representatives was expected on Wednesday to approve legislation to toughen Washington’s response to China's crackdown on its Uighur Muslim minority, sending it to Trump’s desk, congressional sources said.

Asked if he would sign the bill, which calls for sanctions against senior Chinese officials, Mr Trump said he would hear more about the issue later on Tuesday and would “take a look at it very strongly”, but did not say how he would respond.

Mr Kudlow also said that while Mr Trump's phase one trade deal with China reached in January was intact for now, the President was so "miffed" with Beijing over the novel coronavirus and other matters it was not as important to him as it once was.

The US Chamber of Commerce business lobby urged Beijing to de-escalate the situation, saying it would be "a serious mistake" to jeopardise Hong Kong's special status.

Reuters