Donald Trump has signed two US bills supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters, defying calls from China to block the legislation and putting the territory’s special trade status at risk.
The president ratified the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act after it was overwhelmingly passed by Republican and Democrat lawmakers, a rare example of bipartisan co-operation. It mandates the US government to re-examine annually Hong Kong’s special status and imposes sanctions on anyone who has suppressed human rights in the former British colony.
Mr Trump also signed a second bill that directs the US administration to block new export licences for tear gas, rubber bullets and handcuffs being sent to the Hong Kong police force.