‘Could Reassess Hong Kong’s Status’: US Secretary Of State Michael Pompeo Warns China

United States (US) Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Sunday (17 May) warned China that the US could reassess the status of Hong Kong in the light of alleged interference by Beijing in the working of American journalists in Hong Kong, reports news agency ANI.

Throwing full weight and support behind the people of Hong Kong, Pompeo said, "Any decision impinging on Hong Kong' autonomy and freedoms as guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law would inevitably impact our assessment of One Country, Two Systems and the status of the territory."

Pompeo outright said in public that he had been alerted about the threats from the Chinese Government interfering in the work of American journalists based in Hong Kong. Pompeo said that the journalists are members of the free press and not propaganda cadres and underscored that their valuable reporting informs Chinese citizens and the world.

It should be noted that the warning by the US to China comes just days ahead of 22 May, when Pompeo's State Department is slated to submit a report to the US Congress on the state of Hong Kong's autonomy from China.