OREANDA-NEWS. US President Donald Trump signed into law on democracy and human rights in Hong Kong on Wednesday. This was reported by the press service of the White House.

The legislative initiative, approved earlier by both houses of the US Congress, requires the US administration to regularly report to lawmakers on the situation in this special administrative region of the PRC and provides for the possibility of imposing sanctions on persons who, in Washington's opinion, are responsible for violating human rights there. Chinese authorities previously expressed strong opposition to the United States over the approval of the bill.

In addition, the American leader signed a law "prohibiting the export of specialized police equipment from the United States to Hong Kong", aimed at ensuring that US special means to disperse demonstrators aren't used by local law enforcement agencies. "I signed these laws out of respect for Chinese President Xi Jinping and the people of Hong Kong. It's introduced in the hope that the leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to peacefully resolve their differences, which will lead to long-term peace and prosperity for everyone", Trump said in a statement.