US presidential candidate Marco Rubio accuses Beijing of tightening its grip over Hong Kong
Rubio and Congressman Chris Smith call into question the criminal prosecution of student leaders at the forefront of the Occupy protests
US Republican Party presidential hopeful Marco Rubio has accused China of using “tired tactics of repression and intimidation” to “tighten its grip” on Hong Kong, citing criminal proceedings facing Occupy student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung.
In a move likely to anger Beijing and the Hong Kong government, Rubio and fellow US congressman Chris Smith, who co-chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, also called into question the prosecution of student leaders at the forefront of the 2014 Occupy protests .
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A statement issued by the two congressmen described the trial of Wong as “very disturbing”, adding that it appeared to be “nothing more than political muscle flexing targeting those who dared to stand up for freedom and democracy.”
In response, the Hong Kong government called it inappropriate to comment on ongoing criminal cases and said the US claim was “without foundation”.
“Indeed, as is evident from the cases arising from the ‘Occupy Movement’ that have already been prosecuted, they involve defendants from different camps,” the justice department replied. “Any suggestion that any of the prosecutions against persons participating in the ‘Occupy Movement’ were motivated by political considerations is no more than bare assertion without any foundation.”
Rubio sent a letter to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying six months ago when Wong was first charged with other student leaders, questioning their prosecution over alleged contempt of court for contravening a legal injunction imposed on their activities during protests in late 2014.