Trump signs bill to defend human rights in Hong Kong in a powerful act that is likely to put an additional strain on relations with China

• President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, taking a powerful stand against China in defending Hong Kong human rights.
• Both the House and Senate passed their own versions of the bill last week and sent both sets of bills off to the president's desk for signature.
• "I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people Hong Kong," Trump said in a statement.
• But he added that certain provisions in the bill would "interfere with the exercise of the President's constitutional authority to state the foreign policy of the US."
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, taking a powerful stand in defending Hong Kong that is likely to put a strain on relations with China.

Both the House and Senate passed their own versions of the bill last week; the Senate version, which was passed in both houses then headed to the president for signature.

The Senate bill would essentially require the State Department to ensure that the city's "one country, two systems" agreement with China be upheld each year for the US government to continue to afford Hong Kong with special trade status.

It would also consider sanctions against people involved in human rights abuses against Hong Kong citizens and would ensure visa protections for protesters in the US.

The Senate bill was introduced in May by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has been a vocal critic of Chinese policy and human-rights abuses, while the House version of the bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. It was passed in the House and is now in the Senate.

"I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people Hong Kong. They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all," Trump said in a statement.

But he added that certain provisions in the bill would "interfere with the exercise of the President's constitutional authority to state the foreign policy of the US."

"My Administration will treat each of the provisions of the Act consistently with the President's constitutional authorities with respect to foreign relations."

China's foreign ministry last week condemned the Senate's passage of the bill and vowed to protect the country's national security.