Hong Kong 'strongly' slams critical US congressional report

The Hong Kong government has “strongly” censured a US congressional report on Beijing’s policies in the financial hub city, slamming it as “biased, politically motivated and not reflecting the truth” amid persisting US meddling in China’s internal affairs.

“Safeguarding national security through legislation is in line with international practice,” the city’s administration declared in a Friday statement in reaction to the annual bipartisan commission report on China by the US Congress.

 The report released this week by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China claimed that the “one country, two systems” framework in Hong Kong has been “dismantled,” severely undermining the rule of law and respect for “human rights” that the city has long enjoyed.

Hong Kong, however, countered that contrary to the false allegations that the law undermines the “one country, two systems” framework, Beijing “has the right to legislate for this matter” under the framework.

The US report further alleges that a national security law approved by Hong Kong’s legislature for the former British colony over the summer directly threatens the residents’ right to due process and their freedoms of expression and association.

“The legislation is clearly meant to target, intimidate, and silence Hong Kong’s robust civil society,” it also claimed.

The development came nearly a month after China’s foreign ministry declared it will revoke American diplomatic passport holders’ exemption from the need to obtain visas to travel to Hong Kong over their “vile” behavior concerning the Chinese territory.

China revokes US officials’ visa exemption over ‘vile’ attitude concerning Hong Kong

China revokes American officials

The December 10 announcement came less than a week after the United States targeted 14 Chinese officials for asset freeze and travel ban.

China would impose "sanctions on US executive officials, congressional personnel, non-governmental organization personnel... who have performed badly on Hong Kong-related issues," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Shunying at the time.

Earlier last month Beijing also censured the new US sanctions against top Chinese legislators over their alleged role in devising Hong Kong’s national security law, describing the bans as “hysterical political bullying.”

China: US sanctions over Hong Kong ‘hysterical political bullying’

China condemns the new US sanctions against top Chinese legislators over their alleged role in devising Hong Kong’s national security law, describing the bans as “hysterical political bullying.”

In a statement on December 8, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China’s State Council also expressed “strong indignation and condemnation” at the US State Department decision to impose sanctions on 14 Standing Committee members of the Chinese legislature, the National People’s Congress.

“The move totally violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” the statement said, further slamming Washington’s decision as “purely double-standards.”

The US has ramped up its mudslinging campaign against China since June 2019, when anti-government protests started in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition bill.

Washington has gone as far as slapping sanctions against Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, whom it accuses of a pro-Beijing leaning.

Although the extradition law was later shelved, the demonstrations continued for the following several months and became more violent, endangering the lives and property of local citizens. Protesters also called for Hong Kong’s secession from China.

Beijing that considers Washington to be behind the protests was then forced to introduce a national security law to avert foreign interference and secession.

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