U.S. President Joe Biden today extended a program that protects Hong Kong residents in the United States from deportation for two years until January 2025, in a bid to support Hong Kongers facing China's intensified crackdown.

(AFP file photo)

(CNA) U.S. President Joe Biden today extended a program that protects Hong Kong residents in the U.S. from deportation for two years until January 2025, in a bid to support Hong Kongers facing China's intensified crackdown .

The Associated Press reported that Biden initially approved the plan, called "Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Hong Kong Residents," in August 2021, valid for 18 months. It was originally scheduled to expire on February 5 this year.

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The decision to offer Hong Kongers a temporary safe haven comes in response to the imposition of a national security law for the territory and other measures that undermine the rights promised when Hong Kong was transferred from sovereignty in 1997.

"With this action, we once again demonstrate President Biden's strong support for the people of Hong Kong facing increased repression by the (People's Republic of China)," the White House National Security Council said in a statement.

"We continue to strongly oppose the use of national security laws by the People's Republic of China to deny the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Hong Kong people, undermine Hong Kong's autonomy, and erode Hong Kong's remaining democratic processes and institutions."

After the "anti-extradition" movement broke out in Hong Kong in 2019, the Chinese government took action to clamp down on dissent. The police used the national security law that came into effect in June 2020 to crack down on opposition politicians, human rights activists and demonstrators.