WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has resumed the practice of writing an annual report on the status of Hong Kong's autonomy since China regained control of the island nearly four years ago, the State Department said on Tuesday.

Department spokesman Richard Boucher said even though it was no longer required by law, the State Department had decided to create a "voluntary" report this year. Under the handover pact, China promised to give Hong Kong a high level of judicial autonomy and not interfere with its capitalist lifestyle.

"We are continuing to be very interested in the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, and therefore, the administration has decided to submit a voluntary report to Congress this year on developments in Hong Kong," Boucher told a regular news briefing.

"We think the continuation of this practice of drafting annual reports is useful," he said.

The Hong Kong Policy Act mandated the State Department to conduct annual reports on Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic development until 2000, three years after its 1997 reversion to Chinese sovereignty.

Under that law, if Hong Kong was not deemed to be sufficiently autonomous, the U.S. president could take away certain trade privileges from the city.

Britain ended more than 150 years of colonial rule of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, under an agreement granting the territory 50 years of autonomy and independence for its British legal system.

Asked whether resuming the report was aimed at sending a strong message to China, Boucher said China and the Hong Kong government understood the importance Washington attached to the island's autonomy from mainland China.

Pressed on whether there was reason to be concerned about the level of autonomy in Hong Kong, Boucher said: "I'll just leave it at the importance of the autonomy. We've always held that and we'll continue to emphasise that."

Previous autonomy reports have generally been positive but have contained some critical comments such as the rule of law and Beijing's decision to scrap the Legislative Council.

The new report is currently being drafted and is expected to be released within about a month, another State Department spokesman said.

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