§5721 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

Even if control of Hong Kong changes, U.S. laws must keep applying to Hong Kong on and after July 1, 1997 the same way they did before that date, unless another law or an Executive order under section 5722 says otherwise. Congress agrees that treaties and international agreements made before November 27, 2019 between the United States and Hong Kong, or between the United States and the United Kingdom and applied to Hong Kong, remain in force unless ended by law. If the President finds Hong Kong cannot meet its treaty duties or that keeping those rights or duties is not appropriate, the President must report that decision to Congress under section 5731.

Title 22, §5721

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any change in the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the laws of the United States shall continue to apply with respect to Hong Kong, on and after July 1, 1997, in the same manner as the laws of the United States were applied with respect to Hong Kong before such date unless otherwise expressly provided by law or by Executive order under section 5722 of this title.

(b)For all purposes, including actions in any court in the United States, the Congress approves the continuation in force on and after July 1, 1997, of all treaties and other international agreements, including multilateral conventions, entered into before November 27, 2019, between the United States and Hong Kong, or entered into before November 27, 2019, between the United States and the United Kingdom and applied to Hong Kong, unless or until terminated in accordance with law. If in carrying out this subchapter, the President determines that Hong Kong is not legally competent to carry out its obligations under any such treaty or other international agreement, or that the continuation of Hong Kong’s obligations or rights under any such treaty or other international agreement is not appropriate under the circumstances, such determination shall be reported to the Congress in accordance with section 5731 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–76 substituted “November 27, 2019” for “such date” in two places.

§5721 Continued application of United States law

Summary

Title 22, §5721

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

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