US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Hong Kong could lose its status as a global financial center if a Chinese crackdown continues, and promised a “very interesting” US response in a few days.
Chinese law would ban secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference after months of massive and often violent protests for democracy last year in the semi-autonomous territory. Hong Kong general manager Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that basic freedoms would remain.
But it’s “hard to see how Hong Kong can remain a financial center if China takes over,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a briefing, saying the warning came directly from Trump.
“He is unhappy with China’s efforts,” she said.
Journalists later asked Trump himself if he was considering sanctions against China or visa restrictions for Chinese students. He said it was a “very important question” and that he would do something “you will find very interesting”.
“This is something that you will hear about next time, before the end of the week. Very powerfully, I think,” he said, without giving further details.
Critics fear the new law will be a fatal blow to Hong Kong’s precious freedoms, which are crucial to making it an international financial center just like New York and London.
The announcement of the bills – to be drafted by Beijing and bypass the Hong Kong legislature – on Friday caused the city’s largest stock market decline in five years.
Lam argued that the controversial law “would only target a handful of offenders”. However, she would not be drawn to actions and opinions which would be deemed illegal.
The commander of the Chinese military garrison in Hong Kong warned that the law “would punish any act of separatism”.
“The garrison officers have the determination, the faith and the ability to defend national sovereignty,” Chen Daoxiang told CCTV.
But Lam said the fears that freedoms favorable to the city’s affairs would be threatened were “completely unfounded”.
“Hong Kong’s freedoms will be preserved and the vitality and fundamental values of Hong Kong in terms of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the various rights and freedoms enjoyed by the people, will continue to be there”, Lam told reporters.
The proposed law, she added, “targets only a handful of offenders … it protects the vast majority of law-abiding and peaceful residents”.
Agents of the continent?
Hong Kong was devastated last year by seven months of huge pro-democracy protests, fueled by years of mounting fears that Beijing would interfere with the city’s freedoms.
Millions of people took to the streets for rallies which systematically ended in clashes between riot police and smaller groups of militant protesters brandishing gasoline bombs.
Beijing describes the protests as a foreign-supported plot. Protesters say their rallies are the only way to express opposition in a city without universal suffrage.
Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday after the announcement of the security law and were dispersed by tear gas and water cannons in the worst clashes in months.
The precise wording of the security law has not yet been released, but the Chinese parliament approved the first details last week.
He is expected to approve a bill on Thursday and analysts say it could be implemented this summer.
One concern is a provision authorizing Chinese security agents to operate in Hong Kong, fearing that it would spark crackdown on those who dissent against Beijing.
Subversion laws are commonly used against critics on the continent.
Anthem Law
Asked by a reporter whether the mainland authorities could arrest protesters in Hong Kong, Lam dismissed the question as “your imagination”.
She said anti-government protests would continue to be allowed “if it was done legally”, but did not specify which views would be considered illegal under the new law.
A common song during last year’s demonstrations was “Free Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time”, a cry that sums up the frustration caused by the Beijing regime since the transfer of the city in 1997 by Great Britain.
Activists fear that such calls may be considered illegal given the broad definition of subversion.
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Elsie Leung, a former justice secretary, said activities aimed at undermining local government could be covered by law.
“I don’t think chanting the slogan itself is that important, but when chanting slogans (is) combined with other behavior, it may well constitute subversion of the Hong Kong government,” she said. .
New demonstrations are expected despite anti-coronavirus measures banning large public gatherings.
The Hong Kong legislature will debate a bill banning insults to the Chinese national anthem on Wednesday.
Police rang the building – which was ransacked by protesters last year – with barriers filled with water before the debate.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
