U.S. should punish China if Hong Kong law is passed, says Trump’s chief adviser
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White House National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said on Sunday that the United States would likely punish China if it passed a bill strengthening Hong Kong’s autonomy, adding that the law could wipe out. the city’s position as a world financial center.
Speaking on Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program, O’Brien said the Chinese proposal would likely trigger sanctions for violating the adopted Hong Kong law on democracy and human rights. by Congress and approved by the President. Donald Trump last year.
“It seems that with this national security law, they will essentially take Hong Kong and if they do … Secretary of State Mike Pompeo probably will not be able to certify that Hong Kong retains a high degree of “Autonomy and if that happens, they will impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China,” he said.
O’Brien also said that a decision by China to take more control of Hong Kong could scare away its financial community.
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“I don’t see how [the financial industry] You can stay, “he said.” One of the reasons they came to Hong Kong is because there was the rule of law, there was a free enterprise system, there was a capitalist system, there was democracy and local legislative elections. If all these things disappear, I don’t know how the financial community can stay there. “
Thanks to its special status, light regulations and location, Hong Kong is the third largest financial center in the world, behind London and New York.
O’Brien predicted that there would be a “brain drain” from Hong Kong residents if the law were passed. “They will not stay in Hong Kong to be dominated by the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party.”
The bill was unveiled last week at the National Ceremonial of the Chinese People’s Congress, which would allow China to bypass the local government in Hong Kong, allowing it to quell protests and restrict freedom of expression. The bill is expected to be voted on May 28.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday, resulting in dozens of arrests when police confronted protesters with tear gas and a water cannon.