National security law has destroyed Hong Kong’s autonomy, US’ Mike Pompeo says

Name: Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism
Uploaded: 2020-07-01T06:51:13.000Z
Duration: 2 min 13 s
Description: Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism

Washington will not stand idly by, its top diplomat says after the law takes effect on Tuesday against a chorus of international condemnation

China promised 50 years of freedom to Hong Kong but gave it 23, Pompeo adds on 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule

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The national security law was passed by Beijing without its text being revealed to people in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sarah Zheng

Published: 2:51pm, 1 Jul 2020Updated: 12:13am, 2 Jul 2020

The United States has condemned Beijing for enacting a national security law in Hong Kong that it says has destroyed the city’s autonomy, vowing it will not stand idly by over the new law.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lamented the passing of the controversial legislation by the top body of China’s national legislature on Tuesday – which could lead to life imprisonment for serious offenders – as a “sad day for Hong Kong and for freedom-loving people across China”.

The law, effective from 11pm on Tuesday in the city, criminalised secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to jeopardise China’s national security.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s [CCP’s] decision to impose draconian national security legislation on Hong Kong destroys the territory’s autonomy and one of China’s greatest achievements,” Pompeo said in the statement, published late on Tuesday in the US.

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Beijing’s passage of national security law for Hong Kong draws international criticism

“The United States will not stand idly by while China swallows Hong Kong into its authoritarian maw.”