'Immediate effect of US bills will be psychological'

'Immediate effect of US bills will be psychological'

Felix Chung talks to RTHK's Janice Wong

The leader of the Liberal Party, Felix Chung, said on Friday that newly passed US bills on Hong Kong will not have an immediate effect on the SAR, but admitted they will have a psychological impact relating to how the country will treat the city in future.



"The first impact definitely is psychological impact that will affect people to rethink on how the United States will treat Hong Kong in future," said the leader of the pro-business party.



"But actually there won't be any major effect [on trade]," he said. "America has so many business interests in Hong Kong and they won't do anything that will hurt their interests, at least in the short term period."



Chung said he doesn't expect any impact on businesses here for two-three years.



"Maybe they will give a sanctions list on certain leaders, government officials in Hong Kong. But I don't think it will have a very deep effect in Hong Kong at all," he said.



He said anti-government protesters will be encouraged by the signing into law of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, but he warned them not to place too much trust in the United States, because it only has its own interests at heart.



The lawmaker said there is a worry that other countries will follow the US and take similar action, but he thinks most countries in the West will not, because of their own business interests on the mainland.



The pro-government lawmaker didn't foresee the current administration taking more tough steps to stop the agitation as such methods haven't worked so far.



Chung told RTHK's Janice Wong that he hopes the peace that has prevailed over the last few days will continue.