China’s Xi Moves to Tighten Grip on Hong Kong With New Laws

With his plan to impose sweeping antisedition legislation on Hong Kong, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has revealed a willingness to alter the onetime British colony’s special status as a self-governing city with a speed and scope that has surprised many, from pro-democracy activists to diplomats to businesspeople.

The U.S. is reviewing whether Hong Kong retains its semiautonomous status in the wake of Beijing’s plan. A finding that it has lost its semiautonomy could prompt the U.S. Congress to take punitive action, from removing the city’s special trade status to imposing sanctions.

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