As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong is governed under the “one country, two systems” principle. Under that structure, Hong Kong is given self-governing power, a largely separate legal and economic framework from China, and various freedoms including limited election rights.
Such a system underpins Hong Kong’s status as a global financial and business center, especially as a middleman between China and the world. The city’s autonomy from China is also a reason why the U.S. treats it differently from other Chinese cities. For example, elevated U.S. tariffs imposed on China in the trade war don’t apply to Hong Kong.
Losing that special treatment would damage the city’s economy, and its repercussions could potentially feed through the global financial system.
To be sure, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 by itself doesn’t mandate the removal of the territory’s special status if the U.S. finds that Hong Kong is not sufficiently autonomous from China. The revocation has to come from Trump through an executive order, or Congress via the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, which spells out Washington’s special treatment of the city.
Nevertheless, analysts said Washington is not likely to go so far as to revoke the city’s special status, given the economic stake the U.S. has in Hong Kong.
