HONG KONG: A majority of US companies in Hong Kong surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) are concerned about the sweeping new national security law in the global financial hub, with a third looking to move assets or business longer-term.
The legislation, which punishes secession subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, has further strained relations between the United States and China.
The Amcham survey, published on Monday (Jul 13) and to which 183 or 15 per cent of its members responded on Jul 6 to 9, showed 36.6 per cent of respondents were "somewhat" concerned and 51 per cent were "extremely concerned" about the legislation.
More than two-thirds of the respondents were more concerned than a month ago, when the full details of the law, which came into force just before the anniversary of the former British colony's return to Chinese rule on Jul 1, 1997, were unveiled.