The United States' formal declaration that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China paves the way for Washington to impose sanctions on individuals and new tariffs - actions that could threaten the city's standing as a financial hub, said analysts.
But the "nuclear option" of stripping Hong Kong of its special status under US law would hurt Hong Kong and the American companies based there more than it would harm the Chinese government, said analysts, who also believe the move will unlikely be taken in the near future.
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