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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§5722 Presidential Order

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Starting July 1, 1997, the President can issue an executive order to stop treating Hong Kong differently from the People’s Republic of China under any specific U.S. law or part of a law if the President decides Hong Kong is not sufficiently autonomous. The President should consider the terms of the Joint Declaration when making that decision. Any such order must say which law is affected and be published in the Federal Register. The President can end the suspension later if Hong Kong regains enough autonomy, and that ending must also be published in the Federal Register.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §5722

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Presidential determination
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)Factor for consideration
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)Publication in Federal Register
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)Termination of suspension
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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110