Word forms of despite

Use Rule Despite and In Spite Of, Although and Even Though

It is not quite typical for the English language to have 4 lexical units denoting the same thing. However, in the case of despite, in spite of, although and even though, we must agree that there are exceptions to this tradition. Yes, the meaning of these words is the same — «despite .. though» However, there is a difference in the use of the following words.

The difference between prepositions Despite and In spite of

Despite and In spite of both translate as “despite”. These words are prepositions, so a noun is placed after them. The whole «truth» about these words can be clearly presented in the form of a table.

Transcription	Part of speech	Compatibility	Transfer
DESPITE	/ dɪˈspaɪt /	pretext	Despite / In spite of + noun, pronoun or verb with -ing	Despite
In spite of	/ ɪn / / ˈspaɪt / / əv /

Now let’s see the difference in usage with examples.

• We enjoyed our holiday in spite of the rain.
• Despite the pain in his leg, he completed the marathon.
• Despite having all the necessary qualifications, they didn’t offer me the job.

Caution: do not mix the words!

Pardon the pun: although these prepositions sound almost the same, you cannot confuse their use.

Do not add “of” to despite — despite of. And vice versa: we do not recommend removing “of” from in spite of — in spite.

• Despite the bad weather, there was a large crowd at the match. ☑
• NOT! Despite the bad weather, there was a large crowd at the match. ☒
• In spite of the bad weather, there was a large crowd at the match. ☑
• NOT! In spite of the bad weather, there was a large crowd at the match. ☒

Rule of Using Conjunctions Although, Even though

By analogy with their predecessors, these words also have the same translation — «though.» However, they stand out significantly in use: these are conjunctions, that is, such parts of speech that connect sentences with each other. Therefore, after although or even though we not only have to put one noun, pronoun or –ing form, but also follow them with a verb — a predicate.

Transcription	Part of speech	Compatibility	Transfer
Although	/ ɔːlˈðəʊ /	union	Although / Even though + subject + predicate	Although Despite the fact that
even thought	/ ˈIːv (ə) n / / ðəʊ /

Source: https://www.learnathome.ru/grammar/despite-inspiteof-although-even-though.html

Spelling

“Despite” in its most common form (as a preposition) is written in two words.

• Means «not paying attention to anything.»
• Expresses concessional attitudes.
• Used with the accusative case.

The spelling of this combination depends on what part of speech is in front of us. Let’s look at examples:

• Despite the weather, we had a great walk.
• If two hearts are destined to meet, it will happen despite the time and distance.
• They felt comfortable in each other’s company, despite the long separation.

In all three cases, we are dealing with a preposition in which the word «despite» is correctly written together.

In order to make sure that you have a preposition in front of you, try replacing it with the following words:

1. not considering
2. contrary to,
3. in spite of.

Was the replacement successful? Then you can be sure!

Split writing

Is it possible to write «in spite of»? Quite, if «in spite of» is a verbal participle. We think you know the rule about the separate spelling of the “not” particle with this part of speech. It also works in our case. See examples:

• He silently left the audiencewithout even looking at her.
• In spite of no one, the girl ran out of the room.

In the above sentence, “not looking” answers the question “doing what?”. The synonym is the combination «without looking».

Recognizing a preposition (2 words)

Let’s formulate the basic principles:

1. The value of the assignment.
2. It has a constant form, that is, it is impossible to omit the prefix «not».
3. You cannot ask a question, since the official parts of speech have no questions.
4. Cannot be replaced with a verb.

Well, do not forget that this preposition is written together with «not».

How to recognize a verbal participle (3 words)

Here are the main points to watch out for:

1. If you omit «not», the meaning is reversed.
2. It usually has nouns or pronouns with the prepositions «s», «na», «by».
3. Since there is an additional action, you will certainly come across a verb with the meaning of the main action in the sentence.
4. Synonymous with «not looking».

We write separately with the negative particle.

Punctuation

The turns with the preposition we are investigating are isolated.

• Despite the years, the lady looked adorable.
• A presentable, despite his short stature, middle-aged man entered the hall.
• The girl learned to live on, despite the pain of disappointment.

When the turnover is at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is placed after it, at the end — in front of it, in the middle — commas on both sides.

Synonyms

The preposition «despite» can be replaced with synonymous ones:

1. contrary;
2. vs;
3. though;
4. in spite of;
5. contrary to;
6. across;
7. out of spite;
8. although;
9. regardless of.

Of course, do not forget to pay attention to the context and the appropriateness of the use of synonyms in a particular style of speech.

Antonyms

We will not consider all the antonyms, we will give only the most obvious — this is the word «thanks».

What do the English say?

But curious, how does our preposition sound in English?

«In spite of»

First of all, it is worthwhile to understand the unspoken rule: if in our country “despite” is two words, then the English will have a combination of one or three (but not two) words.

So, remember:

• In English, this preposition sounds like despite (without of!) Or in spite of.
• After it, either a noun or a gerund is spoken.
• You can say the whole sentence, but be sure to add the phrase the fact that immediately after the preposition.

Let’s give some examples:

1. He is hungry in spite of eating three big hamburgers. “He’s hungry despite having eaten three large hamburgers.”
2. She has a good mood despite the bad weather. — She is in a good mood, despite the bad weather.
3. Mary s the dogs despite the fact that the dogs don’t her. — Mary loves dogs, despite the fact that dogs do not like her.
4. I want to be a singer in spite of the fact that I don’t have a voice. — I want to be a singer, despite the fact that I have no voice.

«Though»

There is in English the word although, which translates as «though». Try not to confuse it with despite, otherwise you end up with grammatical nonsense.

Although there are two synonyms for though and even though. It would seem, what is the difference? Though is simply used less frequently than although. And even though it underlines the surprise of the fact.

Consider the following examples:

1. He drank my coffee although it was cold. — He drank my coffee, although it was cold.
2. Though all my friends orange juice, I can’t stand it. “Although all my friends love orange juice, I hate it.

Source: https://pishempravilno.ru/nesmotrya-na/

Enjoy learning English online with Puzzle English for free

Despite the fact that today the advantage is for emails, it is simply impossible to do without traditional mail in some cases. Both in everyday life and at work, we often have to deal with the execution of official documents.

The knowledge of how to write a formal letter in English correctly will come in handy in many cases. For example, write a cover letter for a resume or for a university, write a business letter to a bank or consulate, and in many others.

This article will show you how to write and format a business letter in English with examples and translation. And also, what are the rules of business correspondence and what phrases will help in composing official letters.

Types of business letters

Formal letters can be divided into several main categories:

> Congratulation letter — Congratulation letter

For example, a promotion to a colleague or a holiday for a business partner.

> Thank-you letter — Thank you letter

Sent in gratitude, for example, to an employee for a good job.

> Commercial offer — Commercial offer

Sent to firms with a proposal for cooperation.

> Acceptance letter — Confirmation letter

This is a letter stating that you are ready to accept the proposed position

> Application — Application

The application can take many forms, but is commonly used in job correspondence when you are proposing an open position.

> Complaint letter — Complaint letter

Sent to a company or firm whose product or service you are unhappy with.

> Inquiry letter — Inquiry letter

He writes to the company in order to learn about a product, service, or, for example, to inquire about the availability of vacancies in the company.

> Refusal letter — Refusal letter

Contains a refusal to provide information, the opportunity to hire a candidate, etc.

And other, more highly specialized types of business messages.

General rules of official correspondence

Business etiquette and principles of official communication are the same in different countries. Complaints to banks both in Russia and in England are drawn up using approximately the same templates. Business letters are written according to the same principle both in Japan and in Germany.

Therefore, it is enough to learn how to correctly compose an official letter in English once — and this knowledge will help you out all your life.

A business letter should be:

• Correctly designed
• Short and meaningful
• Competently written
• Polite, even if it’s a complaint

If you are composing a response to an official letter or request, pay attention to the tone in which it is written, how it is formatted and what wording is used in it. This will help you in composing your reply letter.

Business writing style

In official documents, it is important to observe generally accepted language norms and not take liberties. You should not use slang, abbreviations and especially emotional words.

Always maintain a business tone and show respect for the recipient. Business English often uses modal verbs to give formality to speech.

For example, instead of “Please, send me”, it’s better to write: “I would be grateful if you could send me” (“I would be grateful if you could send me”).

And of course, try to avoid large and cumbersome speech constructs. Follow a simple rule: you are not sure about the meaning of a word or the correctness of a phrase — do not write. Better to reformulate the sentence than confuse the recipient.

The structure of a business letter in English

In England, there are a number of rules, guided by which you can draw up any official appeal.

Letters that are sent by mail on behalf of the organization must be printed on letterhead with the details.

Address

The sender’s address is usually located in the upper right corner. It can include the name of the company, physical address and contacts. The sender’s own name may be omitted if the letter is written on behalf of the company.

The recipient’s address is located on the left of the sheet, below the sender’s address.

An example of writing the address of the sender and recipient:

Mr Arnold Lewis

General Manager

Powerty Ltd

134-146 Curtain Rd

London, UK

Howard brown

300 Oxford St.

London, UK

date

The date layout is pretty loose. Usually placed below or above the recipient’s address.

Tip: Pay attention to the date format. In the US and UK, dates are spelled differently. In the United States, the month is written first, and then the date. For example, 10.26.17 = October 26, 2017.

It is recommended to write the date in words to avoid confusion with numbers.

If the letter is confidential, then usually it is indicated before the beginning of the line with the address.

Treatment

If you know the name of the addressee and his position, be sure to indicate it at the beginning of the letter.

• Mr — appeal to a man (Dear Mr Smith)
• Mrs — referring to a married woman (Dear Mrs Smith)
• Miss — an appeal to an unmarried girl (Dear Miss Smith)

Recently, it has been considered incorrect to emphasize the marital status of a woman. Instead, you can use the neutral treatment Ms (Dear Ms Smith).

If the name is unknown, the neutral Dear Sir or Dear Madam can be used.

Tip: pay attention to punctuation.

In British English, there is no full stop after Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms and a comma after the name.

Dear Mrs Smith,

In American English, Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms is followed by a period and a colon after the name.

Dear Mrs. Smith:

If you write on your own behalf, then use I (i), if on behalf of the company, then we (we).

Also, if you are writing a letter to a company or a company and do not know the name of the recipient of the letter, use the neutral address Dear Sir / Madam (dear sirs).

Before sending the letter, be sure to make sure that the recipient’s name is correct. Nothing can spoil the first impression of an official letter, as a mistake in the name in a personal address.

If contact with the recipient has already been established, after contacting it will not be superfluous to add a polite phrase. For example,

Hope you are well! — I hope you are fine!

I was pleased to meet you at the conference last week — I was pleased to meet you at the conference last week

I hope you are enjoying your business trip — I hope you are enjoying your business trip

Congratulations on your promotion! — Congratulations on your promotion!

If you are composing a letter as a follow-up to a previous correspondence, meeting or telephone conversation, then you can use the following introductory phrases:

Thank you for your prompt response — Thank you for your prompt response

Thank you for your message — Thank you for your message

Thank you for your e-mail of the 21st of May — Thank you for your letter of May 21st

With reference to your last phone call — Referring to your last phone call,

Further to our conversation — Continuing our conversation

A formal letter should be simple, clear, and short.

The first paragraph should clearly indicate the purpose of the letter: request, complaint, appeal, offer of cooperation, etc.

It usually starts with the introductory phrase “I am writing”. You can write a letter for different purposes. For example:

to enquire about — to learn about

to apologize for — to apologize for

in connection with — in connection with

in reference to — in relation

to get more details about — to clarify details

to explain — to explain

to remind — to remind

to recommend — to recommend

to congratulate — to congratulate

to request — to make a request

to inform — to inform

and so on

Other ways to start a letter:

I apologize for — I apologize for

I confirm that — I confirm that

I would to clarify — I would like to clarify

I kindly ask you to — I ask you

The second paragraph should reveal the essence of the first and clarify the very purpose of the letter. Express your thoughts to the point and avoid unnecessary facts and phrases.

In the final paragraph, you should write about what action or result you expect from the recipient of the letter. This could be a request to return an item, an invitation to a meeting, a request for more information, etc.

Do not overload the letter with personal pronouns. It is better to pay attention to the recipient, especially if this letter is on behalf of the company. Be kind and considerate to the person you are writing to — this will help create a good impression and build useful long-term contacts.

Completing the letter

In conclusion, do not forget to thank the recipient and hope for a quick response.

This can be done using phrases:

Thank you for your interest in — Thank you for your interest in

I am looking forward to your confirmation — I look forward to your confirmation

I shall be pleased to answer your questions — I will be pleased to answer your questions

Source: https://puzzle-english.com/directory/business-letter

Declarations, conventions, agreements and other legal materials

Adopted by Resolution 2263 (XXII) of the UN General Assembly of November 7, 1967

General Assembly,

Considering that the peoples of the United Nations have reaffirmed in the Charter their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equality of men and women,

Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the principle of non-discrimination and proclaims that all people are born free and equal in their dignity and rights and that everyone should have all the rights and freedoms proclaimed in it, without any distinction, that differences in gender,

Bearing in mind the resolutions, declarations, conventions and recommendations adopted by the United Nations and the specialized agencies with a view to promoting equality between men and women,

Concerned that, despite the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other instruments of the United Nations and specialized agencies, and despite progress made on the issue of equality, significant discrimination against women continues to exist,

Considering that discrimination against women is incompatible with a woman’s dignity as a person, the well-being of the family and society, prevents her from participating on equal terms with men in the political, social, economic and cultural life of her country and is an obstacle to the full development of a woman’s capabilities in her ministry to their country and humanity,

Mindful of the great contribution women have made to social, political, economic and cultural life and the role they play in the family, and especially the role in raising children,

Convinced that the full development of the country, the well-being of the whole world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on an equal basis with men in all areas,

Considering it necessary to ensure in law and practice universal recognition of the principle of equality of men and women,

solemnly proclaims this Declaration:

Article 1

Discrimination against women, which denies or limits their equality with men, is fundamentally injustice and constitutes a crime against human dignity.

Article 2

All necessary measures should be taken to repeal existing laws, customs, regulations and practices that discriminate against women, to establish adequate legal protection for the equality of men and women, in particular:

a) the principle of equality for men and women must be included in the constitution or otherwise guaranteed by law;

(b) International instruments of the United Nations and specialized agencies concerning the elimination of discrimination against women must be ratified or acceded to and fully implemented as soon as possible.

Article 3

All appropriate measures should be taken to educate public opinion and guide national efforts to eradicate prejudice and abolish customs and all other practices based on the idea of ​​the inferiority of women.

Article 4

All appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that women, on an equal basis with men, without any discrimination:

a) the right to vote in elections and the right to be elected to publicly elected bodies;

Source: https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/declarations/women_discrimination.shtml

What are introductory words in English for?

Introductory words are called so precisely because they «introduce» the reader into the meaning of the sentence. They denote a logical connection between the original thought and the final one, thereby giving the text smoothness and integrity. Introductory words are like road signs that help the reader navigate the text.

The easiest way to connect words is conjunctive conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. They help to combine not only single words, but entire phrases. For example, when you use the conjunction “so” (meaning “therefore”), you are saying, “we can draw this conclusion from the above”.

When you use «or» you are saying «there is also such a variant.» The most commonly used conjunction «and» is also the weakest in terms of conveying meaning, it simply combines «something» and «something else.» Constructive conjunctions play the role of ligaments, but they are not enough to give the text coherence and expressiveness.

What are the introductory words

And here introductory words come to the rescue! They logically connect sentences or their fragments with each other. Introductory words are classified according to the type of logical connection between the members of the sentence. Let’s consider the most frequently used ones.

• Example: for example, for instance (for example), such as (such as), specifically (namely)
• Consequence: therefore, hence, thus, thus, as a result, resulting in, so, consequently
• Opposition: nevertheless (nevertheless), however (however), but (but), on the other hand (on the other hand), in contrast (for comparison), on the contrary, conversely (vice versa), at the same time ( at the same time), still (nevertheless), although (although), even though (even though), despite, in spite of (despite the fact that)
• Similarity: wise, similarly, just as, equally
• Concession: although (although), even though (even though), of course (of course), granted (provided, taking into account), while (with that)
• Addition: in addition, additionally (in addition, in addition), moreover (more), also (also), furthermore (in addition, also, in addition)
• Emphasis: more importantly, most importantly, chiefly, indeed, in fact, primarily, no doubt
• Repetition: again (again), in other words (in other words), in effect (in fact, in fact), that is (that is), in short (in short)
• Time indication: at last (last time), eventually (eventually), before (earlier), after, afterwards (next), finally (finally), during (during), then (then), when (when ), as (because)
• Specifying a location: to the right, to the left, in the background, in the foreground, in the distance
• Conclusion: thus (thus), finally, in the end (finally, in conclusion)

How introductory words can affect the text

You may be surprised how much better the text can be by using the introductory words correctly. Introductory words act like the glue that holds sentences and ideas together, helping you and your reader move smoothly and naturally from one part of the text to the next. For example:

Source: https://skyeng.ru/articles/dlya-chego-nuzhny-vvodnye-slova-v-anglijskom-yazyke

Hong Kong is no longer autonomous. Taking advantage of the epidemic, China wants to strip the city of independence — despite massive protests — Meduza

In the history of Hong Kong, an autonomous metropolis within China, two key events took place in two days.

On May 27, 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the city had lost its autonomy from the People’s Republic of China, and the next day, the National People’s Congress (NPC), a kind of “parliament” of the PRC that meets once a year, opened the way for the adoption of the state security law.

This law will drastically expand the powers of the Chinese intelligence services in Hong Kong. Despite restrictions due to the coronavirus, thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong against the decision of the Chinese authorities, which could really deprive the city of independence — more than 500 people have been arrested in recent days.

In turn, if the United States officially ceases to consider Hong Kong autonomous, the city may also lose its status as a world financial center. Pavel Bazhanov, an expert on Chinese and Hong Kong law, tells especially for Meduza whether it will be possible to avoid the most negative scenario.

What is the law on state security?

In 1997, Hong Kong ceased to be a British colony and became part of China as an autonomy. It is subject to Chinese laws, but only in certain areas (defense and foreign policy), and has its own Basic Law, as well as a parliament and executive branch.

But, according to article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, in force since 1997, there should have been a long time ago a law prohibiting activities directed against the security of the state: treason, separatism, incitement to rebellion, calls for the violent overthrow of the government, illegal obtaining of information constituting state secret.

This law should also prohibit the political activities of foreign organizations and even just the establishment of ties between them and local political parties.

The order to pass this law has remained unfulfilled for more than 20 years: the idea of ​​criminalizing crimes against the state security of «mainland» China in Hong Kong has always been unpopular.

The first and so far the only attempt to pass a law on national security in Hong Kong happened in 2003 — which is interesting, also after the epidemic, «SARS». It all ended with the fact that on July 1, 2003, mass protests took place in Hong Kong for the first time after the transfer to power in the PRC.

About 500 thousand people took to the streets, after which this issue was never again raised in the local parliament. Only during last year’s protests did this record fall.

How did the epidemic affect all this?

Last year, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets as the authorities tried to accept, which resulted in months of opposition to the authorities.

They have sharply increased the fears of the PRC: Chinese media and officials have repeatedly spoken of «foreign intervention» and support for protests from abroad by «hostile forces.»

Those protests died down only when the extradition law was finally withdrawn from the city parliament, and completely fizzled out after the outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic. She played into the hands of the Chinese authorities.

Hong Kong was one of the first to face the disease.

To combat the epidemic, restrictions on entry from the PRC (from the beginning of February 2020) and foreign states (from the beginning of March) were introduced, a mandatory 14-day quarantine was introduced for all arrivals, some public institutions were closed and restrictions were introduced for private business. Although the city was able to avoid general self-isolation, of course, measures were also introduced to limit mass gatherings: at the peak of the epidemic, their maximum number should not exceed four people.

Now the rules have slightly increased the allowed number — but only up to eight people. This limitation is valid until June 4th.

In particular, it was supposed to prevent the traditional rally in memory of the events in Tiananmen Square in early June 1989..

Failure to comply with the ban on holding public events is punishable by up to six months in prison if the case is being considered in court, or up to two thousand Hong Kong dollars (about $ 250) if a flat fine is paid.

In addition, the Hong Kong police, citing the need to protect public health, are now refusing to approve any rallies and meetings, which makes it possible to attract all protesters for participating in an unauthorized or illegal rally. And for this, the laws of Hong Kong provide for imprisonment for up to five years.

Therefore, unlike the previous year, which began with peaceful rallies agreed with the police (and attracted a large number of participants), now participation in rallies and meetings almost automatically means a violation of the law, for which the police are ready to punish.

This should scare off the moderate segment of the population, which is not at all enthusiastic about the new law, but is not ready to violate the law itself and take the corresponding risks.

It is this moment that the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong are now trying to take advantage of to pass unpopular laws.

What is the plan of the Chinese authorities?

The likelihood of passing a state security law through the Hong Kong parliament is still minimal, so the Chinese authorities have decided to take a detour. To do this, a constitutional loophole will be used: according to Article 18 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the Beijing government can extend the «national laws» to the region. It is precisely such a law that Beijing decided to adopt.

The first step in this direction was taken on May 28: the NPC of China made a decision «to improve the legal system of Hong Kong» and delegated the authority to develop and pass specific laws to its Standing Committee (unlike the NPC, which meets once a year, it meets once every two months ). Now he will develop and approve detailed laws of the PRC on state security issues, and then include these laws in the list in force in Hong Kong. This could happen as early as June 2020.

And finally, the third step — the new Chinese laws will come into force after being published by order of the executive secretary, that is, the head of the city, Keori Lam. Unlike the city parliament, in which opposition MPs will try to delay or disrupt the passage of the law, the city mayor and government will not put up any opposition: the system of electing Hong Kong’s executive secretary makes it impossible for a candidate disloyal to Beijing to enter the office.

What exactly will be in the law on state security?

So far, six points are known that are important for Hong Kong:

• the duty of city authorities to prevent, suppress and eradicate “actions and activities” that harm state security;
• the prohibition of interference in the affairs of Hong Kong for any «foreign and foreign forces», the need to prevent, suppress and eradicate the «use of Hong Kong» by these forces for any subversive activity;
• the duty of all branches of government in Hong Kong — legislative, executive and judicial — to suppress illegal activities;
• the possibility of establishing representative offices of Chinese «departments responsible for state security» in Hong Kong (meaning the Ministry of State Security of the PRC) and performing «appropriate work to protect state security»;
• the duty of the city leader to regularly report on the work to protect state security, educate city residents and suppress illegal activities to the government in Beijing;
• empowering the NPC Standing Committee with all the necessary powers to draft and enact national security laws for Hong Kong.

The law may come into force as early as September 2020, when the next elections to the city parliament will take place in Hong Kong. The already voiced rules raise doubts about the future fate of the autonomy.

According to the local opposition, the law could be used to remove unwanted candidates for the city parliament and prosecute criticism of the PRC and Chinese officials.

Imposing a duty on the courts to protect national security calls into question the independence of the city’s judiciary.

What can the opponents of the law rely on?

From the point of view of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, this whole procedure is not very legitimate. First, according to the Hong Kong «mini-constitution», the city itself must pass the state security law. Second, Hong Kong’s Basic Law permits the enactment of Chinese laws only in matters of national defense and foreign affairs.

While the passage of laws in the local parliament can be hampered by opposition and protests in the streets, then none of this threatens the Beijing authorities. It will still be adopted at the national level — and extended to Hong Kong.

And if adopted, it will be problematic to appeal the constitutionality of the law for one simple reason: the interpretation of Hong Kong’s Basic Law is in the hands of the NPC Standing Committee. So the probability of a positive outcome is practically zero.

The National Anthem Ordinance has been under consideration by the city parliament since January 2019, but until the end of last year remained in the shadow of the extradition bill.

If the law is passed, then the official anthem of Hong Kong will be the «March of Volunteers» — the national anthem of the PRC. Performing the anthem in public in a «distorted» or «disrespectful» form (including parodies of the anthem) will be punishable by a fine of up to HK $ 50 (about US $ 6,5) and imprisonment for up to three years. Similar measures are envisaged in Hong Kong for insulting the national flag of the PRC (they were already applied during last year’s protests).

Hong Kong protesters have a negative attitude towards any state symbols of the PRC, and the country’s anthem is no exception (the protests have their own anthem that claims to be «official» — «Glory to Hong Kong»). Therefore, it is not surprising that the opposition began to prepare for protests from the very moment when the date of consideration of this law in parliament became known.

Until now, its adoption has been successfully hindered by the parliamentary opposition, which has managed to block the legislative process for several months. Only at the beginning of May, the pro-government deputies were able to regain control over the committee, “unfreeze” the consideration of laws and set a date for the start of the second reading of the draft law on the national anthem. And on May 27 it was adopted in the second reading.

Where will this all lead?

An important trading partner for Hong Kong is the United States. They account for about 8% of the city’s turnover (China — 55%). Now Hong Kong runs the risk that the United States will recognize it as dependent and deprive it of economic preferences, since their condition is the city’s autonomy from the PRC. Under American law, in order to extend the previous rules, the Secretary of State is required to annually confirm his relative independence.

American policy towards Hong Kong is based on two laws: United States — Hong Kong Policy Act and Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The first was adopted in the early nineties.

According to him, the United States will maintain the previous regime of relations with the city only if it remains independent of China in all matters except foreign policy and defense.

The second appeared last year against the backdrop of protests and demanded that China should not interfere in the affairs of autonomy (otherwise, the United States breaks off special economic relations with Hong Kong).

Mike Pompeo’s words that the city has lost its independence may be the beginning of a policy rethink. It is possible that at the next stage, the United States will impose sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong organizations and individuals helping to enforce the new Chinese laws.

As a result of this «exchange of blows,» Hong Kong may suffer from both the actions of the PRC and the United States, which will ultimately lead to a decrease in its role as an international financial center.

For Chinese business, this will also be unpleasant because during the trade wars of recent years, it has often used Hong Kong offices to get around the restrictions imposed by the Donald Trump administration.

As a result, the PRC can achieve «the elimination of hostile forces» — but Hong Kong will lose any value for which it was worth fighting for complete control over it.

Source: https://meduza.io/feature/2020/05/29/gonkong-bolshe-ne-avtonomen-vospolzovavshis-epidemiey-kitay-hochet-lishit-gorod-samostoyatelnosti-nesmotrya-na-massovye-protesty