Beijing has promised to take all necessary countermeasures if Washington pressed ahead with the legislation penalizing banks doing businesses with Chinese officials, who implement China’s national security law in Hong Kong.
On Friday, the warning from the Chinese authorities came after the US Senate unanimously voted the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, sending it to the White House for President Trump’s approval. The foreign affairs committee of the Chinese National Congress said that Washington’s move has grossly interfered in Beijing’s internal matters and accused the US of seriously violating international law.
It further added that if the US pressed ahead with the Act, China would take all necessary countermeasures against the move. Over the decision to impose new national security law in Hong Kong, Beijing has faced a groundswell of criticism.
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The new law aims to tackle subversion, succession, terrorism, and collusion with foreign elements. The foreign governments and the pro-democracy activists in the city say that the new law breaches the ‘’one country, two systems’’ principle agreed under the 1984 Sino-British Treaty that guaranteed unique freedoms to the former British colony.
Meanwhile, the new law has also triggered alarm among the rights groups and democracy activists. Officials in Hong Kong and Beijing say that the law which also bypasses the territory’s legislature is necessary to restore stability and order in the city, and it will target only a handful of troublemakers.
Honk Kong government confirmed that a popular slogan often used in pro-democracy protests ‘’Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times’’ is now illegal under the new security law. It said in a statement on Thursday that the slogans, including ‘’Independence HK’’ or separating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the mainland People’s Republic of China’’ are now illegal.
On Wednesday, the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China, police arrested nearly 370 people during demonstrations against the legislation despite the official ban on gatherings. Wednesday’s arrests also include 10 cases of those involving the new security law.
Meanwhile, Boris’s government in London has also announced its plans to offer Hong Kongers with British National Oversees status to migrate to the UK and eventually apply for citizenship. Media reports suggested that Australia’s Scott Morrison is also considering similar action, while Taiwan’s authorities have set up an office to help the territory’s residents wanting to flee the city.
