Hong Kong
Washington/Beijing: The United States has condemned the Hong Kong government’s issuance of new arrest warrants and bounties targeting six overseas democracy activists and the cancellation of passports for seven other activists, including some based in the United States.
“We reject the Hong Kong government’s efforts to intimidate and silence individuals who choose to make the United States their home. The United States does not waver in its advocacy for those who are targeted simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the US State Department stated.
Washington claimed that the extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s national security laws “is a form of transnational repression that threatens US sovereignty and the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world”.
“These actions demonstrate Hong Kong authorities’ disregard for international norms and for the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We call on the Hong Kong government to stop using its national security laws to silence dissent,” the US State Department stated.
It may be mentioned that on December 24, 2024, the Hong Kong police exercised its powers to specify seven wanted persons who it claimed absconded overseas including former lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, as well as activists Kevin Yam, Kwok Fung-yee, Elmer Yuan, Hui Wing-ting and Joey Siu.
China “strongly” deplored and “firmly” opposed “individual countries blatantly attacking and vilifying the legitimate law enforcement activities of the Hong Kong police”.
“Let me reiterate that Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs and there is no place for foreign interference. Relevant countries need to respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law and stop emboldening anti-China rioters. Spreading pessimistic or slanderous rhetoric against Hong Kong will end up nowhere and any attempt to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs under the pretext of human rights and freedom is doomed to fail,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.
China claimed the persons named by the Hong Kong police were long engaged in destabilizing activities seeking to disrupt and undermine Hong Kong’s development and social stability and had absconded overseas.
Beijing has accused the “absconders” of “gravely” undermining national security and Hong Kong’s fundamental interests which had a “serious impact on One Country, Two Systems which is a bottom line that must not be crossed”.
“The Hong Kong police took law enforcement actions in accordance with the Law on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. These are just acts that uphold the rule of law and meet people’s aspirations. They are necessary acts to defend China’s sovereignty and security and legitimate acts to uphold long-term stability in Hong Kong. They are also in line with international law and customary practice,” Ning claimed.
– global bihari bureau
