City ministers step up defence of national security law, accusing foreign critics of double standards and soothing fears over Hong Kong dollar
- ‘Who would object to plans to catch the thieves? The thieves themselves,’ city’s mainland affairs chief says in swatting down outside criticism
- Financial Secretary Paul Chan, meanwhile, says foreign reserves and Beijing’s backing mean Hong Kong dollar will remain strong in face of sanctions
Five ministers – the secretaries for administration, finance, mainland affairs, health and labour – on Sunday expressed their support for the central government’s plan to tailor-make legislation outlawing acts of acts of subversion, secession, terrorism or conspiring with foreign influences in the city.
The move has been strongly criticised by foreign politicians as a violation of the “one country, two systems” principle, but Hong Kong’s No 2 official, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chief secretary for administration, said those accusations were groundless.
“These countries hold double standards, as they have been advocating [the protection of] their own national security,” he argued.
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai also said the national security legislation would guard China and Hong Kong against illegal acts, and was not the business of foreign politicians.