Thread by @demosisto

DEMOSISTO: RESPONSE TO US SECRETARY POMPEO OFFICIAL DECERTIFICATION OF HONG KONG SPECIAL STATUS

1. #US StateSec Pompeo certified #HK no longer warrants differential treatment under US law as ‘No reasonable person can assert that HK maintains a high degree of autonomy from #China

2. His report to Congress mentioned 3 key events to his decision: NPCSC’s assertion of its right to interpret all #HK; #Liaisonoffice’s claim that it was exempt from Basic Law; and the #NationalSecurityLaw announced last week.

3. He applauded millions of #HKprotesters who have stood up to #Beijing’s encroachment. But in response, he noted, the #HKgov ‘deployed tear gas’ & ‘made mass arrests’, while China ‘reportedly dispatched its People’s Armed Police into HK’, breaching Basic Law& Joint Declaration.

4. US President may invoke US-HK Policy Act to respond. Other than tariffs as @Reuters & @nytimes report, it includes 33+ differential treatments, from economic relations, immigration, cultural/educational exchanges to bans on USD-HKD exchanges and import of dual-use technologies

5. Based on our interactions with Congressional offices, President Trump may consider a temporary suspension of Hong Kong’s special status as a separate customs territory, but not permanent. We expect US will monitor #China's reaction to adjust its reckless move.

6. In the face of US pressure, we anticipate that #Beijing’s short-term reaction will be more forceful. Earlier today, NPC just passed #NationalSecurityLaw and plans to set up a #NationalSecurity Intelligence institution to enforce #China's law within the territory of HK.

7. We understand that the Hong Kong government will continue to target Demosisto's international advocacy work in the future. We hereby appeal to fellow Hong Kongers to not only prepare for potential economic blowbacks, but also for even more intense crackdown from China.

8. Over the past year, #HongKongers through our resolve and resistance have sent an unmistakable signal to the world that it should see through #China’s damage to Hong Kong's established system.

9. Yesterday marked the largest-scale #police crackdown since #polyuseige with over 600 arrests. We thank fellow #HKprotesters for contributing to the movt in their own ways, esp the brave ones who took to the streets yesterday and are still detained in police stations as of now.