北京/華盛頓：美國政府於週五（7月17日）就中國加強對香港的安全管制一事，部分取消了特朗普政府於2020年對香港實施的相關制裁與貿易限制，但並未恢復香港的自治地位，這是美國國務院與財政部所述。
中國早前表示，美國允許特朗普就香港的國家緊急狀態宣告到期的決定，會恢復香港的特殊貿易與經濟地位，但美方官員對此評估提出異議。
美國財政部宣布，僅允許特朗普命令中的國家緊急狀態部分到期。該命令是在特朗普第一任期內發布，回應北京在香港實施國家安全法。
2020年7月14日的該命令，過去五年一直每年延長，對與香港安全打壓有關的人士實施制裁，並暫停該特區在以往自治地位下享有的特殊經濟與貿易特權。
美國國務院發言人表示，雖然國家緊急狀態已結束，但該行政命令的其他部分仍然有效。
「根據E.O. 13936的規定，香港不再具有足夠自治性，不能在該法令列出的美國法律與條款下，對中國（中華人民共和國，PRC）採取差別待遇，」國務院發言人補充，並以PRC作為中國的縮寫。
The Treasury said the emergency expiration does not affect restrictions imposed under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 or the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020.
A Treasury spokesperson said the two laws had significant overlap with the national emergency that has now been rescinded, adding that sanctions will remain on 38 of 49 people affected by the executive order.
“The non-renewal is consistent with sanctions modernisation efforts that streamline sanctions for greater efficiency and effectiveness, including by ensuring our sanctions are not duplicative,” the Treasury spokesperson said.
香港曾享有一項與美國對華往來分離的特別經濟與貿易地位。這一地位的基礎是香港在1997年由英國移交中國後，仍保持獨立的關稅區域地位，並享有高度自治。
讓該命令到期的決定是一個重大的轉變，這是在華盛頓與北京最近貿易談判之後作出，談判同樣帶來關稅下調。
自2020年以來，美國在關稅和出口管制方面對香港的待遇與中國相同，但尚不清楚命令到期是否會影響特朗普自2025年1月重新就任以來所實施的關税。那些關税是根據美國其他法律而徵收。
中國稱美國走向更積極的方向
中國商務部 nonetheless welcomed what it called a restoration of Hong Kong’s status as a step toward implementing understandings reached during recent talks between Beijing and Washington.
Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May and has invited Xi to visit the White House in September.
“The US adjustment of its Hong Kong policy in a more positive direction also aligns with the widespread expectations of the international community,” the statement published on its website said.
It urged the US to respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, restore and strengthen normal trade and economic exchanges with the city, and help improve China-US relations.
Critics of the security law say it has crushed the wide-ranging freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it returned to Chinese rule; supporters say it has brought stability to the city after a year of anti-government protests in 2019.
The US began eliminating Hong Kong’s special status in June 2020, halting defense exports and restricting the territory’s access to high-technology products as China prepared to enact the security legislation.
The Hong Kong government, which is selected by a pro-Beijing committee, also welcomed the move.
