Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§5722 Presidential order

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 66— - UNITED STATES-HONG KONG POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - STATUS OF HONG KONG IN UNITED STATES LAW › § 5722

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

After July 1, 1997, the President can stop treating Hong Kong differently from the People’s Republic of China under a specific U.S. law or part of a law if he decides Hong Kong is not autonomous enough. He does this by issuing an Executive order that suspends the effect of section 5721(a) for that law or part of a law. The President should take into account the Joint Declaration’s terms, obligations, and expectations about Hong Kong. Any such order must say which law is affected and be published in the Federal Register. The President can end the suspension for a particular law when he decides Hong Kong has regained enough autonomy. That termination must also be published in the Federal Register.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §5722

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)On or after July 1, 1997, whenever the President determines that Hong Kong is not sufficiently autonomous to justify treatment under a particular law of the United States, or any provision thereof, different from that accorded the People’s Republic of China, the President may issue an Executive order suspending the application of section 5721(a) of this title to such law or provision of law.

(b)In making a determination under subsection (a) with respect to the application of a law of the United States, or any provision thereof, to Hong Kong, the President should consider the terms, obligations, and expectations expressed in the Joint Declaration with respect to Hong Kong.

(c)Any Executive order issued under subsection (a) shall be published in the Federal Register and shall specify the law or provision of law affected by the order.

(d)An Executive order issued under subsection (a) may be terminated by the President with respect to a particular law or provision of law whenever the President determines that Hong Kong has regained sufficient autonomy to justify different treatment under the law or provision of law in question. Notice of any such termination shall be published in the Federal Register.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 5722

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73