Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
The US government has warned American businesses against engaging in operations in Hong Kong as tensions between China and the United States grow.
The Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security issued the warning on Friday, claiming new laws in Hong Kong such as the National Security Law (NSL) could affect American companies.
“These risks fall into four categories: risks for businesses following the imposition of the NSL; data privacy risks; risks regarding transparency and access to critical business information; and risks for businesses with exposure to sanctioned Hong Kong or PRC entities or individuals,” the departments said in their advisory.
The advisory mentioned the arrest of one American citizen and the search and closing of Apply Daily newspaper by the city government as examples of how far Hong Kong’s new measures can affect businesses.
The US has imposed sanctions in response to Hong Kong’s new laws and said American companies “may face heightened risk and uncertainty in connection with sanctions compliance efforts.”
Earlier in the week, anticipating the upcoming US advisory, China warned Washington against interfering with the internal affairs in Hong Kong.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the city’s laws protect foreign companies and the advisory was “typical political manipulation and double standards.”
Last month, Hong Kong police arrested five executives of the Apple Daily and Next Digital — the paper’s parent group — for colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security during the raid.
Police said more than 30 articles published by the news media since 2019 calling for foreign sanctions against China and Hong Kong leaders violated the national security law.
