United States-Hong Kong Policy Act

The United States-Hong Kong Policy Act or more commonly known as the Hong Kong Policy Act (P.L no. 102-383m 106 Stat. 1448) is a 1992 act enacted by the United States Congress. It allows the United States to continue to treat Hong Kong separately from mainland China for matters concerning trade export and economics control after the 1997 handover.Hong Kong's reversion to China: effective monitoring critical to assess U.S. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 1428978372]

The act

The act states that Hong Kong maintains its own export control system as long as it adopts to international standards. The act also pertains to "sensitive technologies", which require Hong Kong to protect the technologies from improper use. The U.S will fulfill its obligation to Hong Kong under international agreements regardless of whether the People's Republic of China is a participant of the particular agreement until the obligations are modified or terminated. [Lauterpacht, Elihu. Greenwood, C J. Lee, Karen. Oppenheimer, Andrew G. International Law Reports. [2002] (2002). Cambridge University. ISBN 0521807751.] Should Hong Kong become less autonomous, the US president may change the way the laws are applied. The State Department's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Controls has stated US will not prejudge the situation in advance of monitoring efforts.

Other information

Due to the act COCOM members designated Hong Kong a "cooperating country" in 1992. Though COCOM was short lived.

PRC criticism

The PRC was displeased with the act. Beijing made it clear that the act was interpreted as American interference in Chinese domestic affairs.Chan, Ming K. The Challenge of Hong Kong's Reintegration With China. [1997] (1997). Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 9622094414.] Most notable is Tung Chee-hwa countering the generally negative image of Hong Kong under Communist Party rule. He condemned Democratic Party chairman at the time Martin Lee who supported the act, and said Lee was "bad mouthing" the Special Administrative Region in front of the international audience.

ee also

* Right of abode

References