Hong Kong Watch strongly condemns non-renewal of national emergency under Executive Order 13936

Hong Kong Watch strongly opposes the non-renewal of the national emergency declared under Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong Normalization, originally issued in 2020 during President Trump’s first term.  

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) was the first to break the news that the order would not be renewed and would be allowed to expire on July 14, 2026. The US Treasury Department subsequently confirmed the decision, which follows recent trade talks between Washington and Beijing.  

The lifting of the national emergency indicates the lifting of sanctions on Hong Kong officials, including Hong Kong Justice Secretary Paul Lam, Hong Kong National Security Department Chief Sonny Au, and former Hong Kong Police Commissioners Raymond Siu and Stephen Lo. It could also pave the way for the restoration of Hong Kong’s preferential trade treatment, including export control exemptions that had been revoked under the original 2020 order. 

Megan Khoo, Policy Director at Hong Kong Watch, commented: 

“The non-renewal of the national emergency under Executive Order 13936 does not just fail to hold Beijing accountable, but hands the Chinese Communist Party a win it has not earned. Hong Kong’s autonomy is more compromised today than when the national emergency was first declared, and nothing in this reversal changes that reality.

The public, and the people of Hong Kong, deserve a clear accounting of what was negotiated and why. We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and to maintain pressure on Hong Kong officials responsible for dismantling the city’s judicial independence and civil liberties. The people of Hong Kong deserve better than to be a bargaining chip in a broader trade deal.”

香港監察強烈譴責美國終止「涉港國家緊急狀態」

香港監察強烈反對美國不再延續根據第13936號行政命令《香港正常化總統行政命令》宣布的「涉港國家緊急狀態」，總統特朗普在首屆任期內2020年簽發有關行政命令。

中國商務部發言人率先透露消息，指行政命令在今年7月14日到期後不再延續。美國財政部隨後證實決定，美、中雙方早前曾展開貿易談判。

撤銷涉港國家緊急狀態意即解除制裁部分香港官員，包括律政司司長林定國、國安委秘書長區志光、前警務處處長蕭澤頤和盧偉聰。這亦可能為恢復香港享有的優惠貿易待遇鋪路，包括根據2020年原始命令撤銷的出口管制豁免。

香港監察政策總監Megan Khoo表示：

「不再延續第13936號行政命令下的涉港國家緊急狀態不但未能追究北京的責任，反而向中國共產黨送上不應得的勝利。今日香港的自治比當初宣布國家緊急狀態時更加受到損害，撤銷狀態絲毫沒有改變現實。

公眾和香港人理應得到談判內容和理由的清楚解釋。我們促請美國政府重新考慮決定，並繼續向摧毀香港司法獨立和公民自由的香港官員施壓。香港人值得更好的對待，而不應淪為廣泛貿易協議中的籌碼。」

Updated on July 22, 2026 to reflect updates from the US Treasury Department.

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