Joe Biden on Thursday (January 26th) ordered a two-year extension of the program allowing Hong Kongers residing in the United States, many of whom seek to escape Chinese repression, to stay there beyond the duration permitted by their visas.
“
The United States supports the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people in Hong Kong.
The People's Republic of China has continued to weaken these rights and freedoms
, “justified the American president in a note.
Joe Biden denounces the attack on the autonomy of Hong Kong
This extension on the wire, a few days before the scheduled end of this program, could further heighten tensions with Beijing, already fueled by the status of Taiwan, trade disputes and Chinese support for Russia.
The United States thus offers “
refuge to the inhabitants of Hong Kong deprived of their freedoms
”, added Joe Biden.
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The president denounced the "
attack on Hong Kong's autonomy
" and the "
weakening
" of democratic institutions still in place, including the arrest of at least 150 politicians and activists since 2020 and the continued detention more than 1,200 political prisoners, according to Washington.
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