HONG KONG - Pressure is mounting on the United States to review its treatment of Hong Kong, which is currently far more relaxed than how it deals with the mainland, amid news that Germany has granted asylum to two Hong Kong political activists who jumped bail and a growing chorus of international criticism.

While some political watchers say it is hard to pinpoint when the US-Hong Kong Policy Act - that defines the special status the territory enjoys - will be scrapped, many agree that there is growing sentiment that Hong Kong is increasingly operating as "one country, one system" instead of the "one country, two systems" principle.