More curbs likely as Pompeo announces end of defense exports to Hong Kong

The United States is ending defense exports to Hong Kong and is considering further restrictions on trade with the territory, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday.

China recently moved to impose new security legislation that has raised concerns among Hong Kong democracy activists that Beijing is further eroding the extensive autonomy promised when Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997.

Read more:

In bid to defend China stand, Hong Kong’s top executive to speak at UN rights forum

China says it will impose visa restrictions on US citizens over Hong Kong row

“The Chinese Communist Party’s decision to eviscerate Hong Kong’s freedoms has forced the Trump administration to re-evaluate its policies toward the territory,” Pompeo said.

He said the United States, effective Monday, was ending exports of defense equipment to Hong Kong and will also take steps to end the export of dual-use technologies to the territory. Dual-use technologies have both commercial and military uses.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app