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US-China trade war
Hong KongHong Kong Economy

Differential treatment for Hong Kong will continue even though city is stuck in middle of US-China trade war, consul general Kurt Tong says

  • Washington will honour its Hong Kong Policy Act while city remains a special administrative region of China, envoy says
  • Under policy, trade tariffs against mainland China do not automatically apply to city

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The trade war has had some impact on Hong Kong’s economy, Kurt Tong says. Photo: Jonathan Wong/SCMP
Denise Tsang
The United States’ top envoy in the city said on Wednesday Hong Kong would continue to enjoy differential treatment under an existing policy even though it was caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade war.

Washington would honour its Hong Kong Policy Act while the city remained a special administrative region of China, consul general Kurt Tong said.

Under the policy, trade tariffs against mainland China do not automatically apply to the city.

Tong said the next two days would be crucial for the two countries as a fresh round of talks would take place in Beijing with a focus on opening up the mainland Chinese market in a fair and reciprocal manner.

Kurt Tong gives a talk on the US consulate’s history in Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong/SCMP
Kurt Tong gives a talk on the US consulate’s history in Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong/SCMP

“As long as it is a special administrative region of China, the US will treat Hong Kong as a special place under the law which allows it to make some differentiations in how we apply US laws to residents of Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s economy,” Tong said, during an event to mark the country’s 175-year diplomatic history in the city.

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