China vows action against US visa rules aimed at Hong Kong national security law

Name: Activist Joshua Wong expects to be ‘prime target’ of national security law in Hong Kong
Uploaded: 2020-06-27T05:11:40.000Z
Duration: 3 min 3 s
Description: Activist Joshua Wong expects to be ‘prime target’ of national security law in Hong Kong

Chinese foreign ministry office in Hong Kong demands a stop to Washington’s ‘bullying actions’ in harsh statement

Analysts predict no immediate action or impact as high-level talks between the two powers at a standstill

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A poster advertising the Hong Kong national security law in one of the city’s MTR stations. Photo: EPA

Sarah Zheng

Published: 1:11pm, 27 Jun 2020Updated: 7:41pm, 27 Jun 2020

Beijing slammed the US on Saturday for enacting visa restrictions on Chinese officials deemed responsible for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms, warning of consequences if Washington did not stop “interfering” ahead of controversial national security legislation for the city.

China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong demanded the United States suspend its “bullying actions” on the Hong Kong issue and described US claims that Beijing was undercutting the city’s semi-autonomous status as a “slander”. In a harshly worded statement, the office repeatedly rebuked the US and defended its national security law, saying it was to ensure stability in the former British colony.

“The US must immediately stop its interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s domestic affairs, or else it will be met with a powerful counter-attack from the Chinese side,” a ministry spokesperson said.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced restrictions on US visas for serving and former Communist Party officials “believed to be responsible for, or complicit in” undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, rights, and freedoms.

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Activist Joshua Wong expects to be ‘prime target’ of national security law in Hong Kong

His statement, which said restrictions may cover family members of these officials, lambasted Beijing for moving to “unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong” and damaging its commitments in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The 1984 agreement was signed between China and Britain ahead of the 1997 transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to Beijing.