Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong protests
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Anti-government protesters wave the US flag as they march to the consulate in Central. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong leader vows not to let US become a stakeholder in city’s affairs, and calls on anti-government protesters to stop asking Washington for help

  • Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act would allow US to impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials
  • Activists Joshua Wong and Denise Ho to travel to US capital next week to meet lawmakers over bill
Hong Kong’s leader has vowed not to let the United States become a stakeholder in the city’s internal affairs, rejecting a US congressional bill that could strip the city of its special trading status as unnecessary interference.

Speaking before meeting her advisers at the Executive Council on Tuesday morning, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor expressed “deep regret” over the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and said it was a move to “interfere with SAR affairs”.

“Any form of interference from foreign congresses is extremely inappropriate. We will not let them become a stakeholder in SAR affairs,” Lam said.

She also urged local politicians and pro-democracy activists to stop asking for its passage. “I hope no more local figures, particularly those in certain positions, will ask proactively for the American Congress to pass the act.”

While Lam did not name the individuals, pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, including Demosisto’s Joshua Wong Chi-fung, have called for the legislation to be passed.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has called on the US to stop “unnecessary” interference. Photo: Sam Tsang

Anti-government protesters have urged American officials and politicians to support their cause by taking diplomatic action against the city’s government by passing the act, first introduced in 2014 and reintroduced in June.

The bipartisan legislation could pave the way for Washington to sanction mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials as well as stripping the city of its special status as a separate trade and customs entity from the rest of China.

The bill would require Washington to assess the city’s political autonomy each year to determine whether the benefits given under the US-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 should continue.

Under the new act, the US president would have the power to take action against people “complicit in suppressing basic freedoms in Hong Kong”.

Why China went on a global media blitz over the Hong Kong protests

Some believe the legislation could deter Beijing from suppressing the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok, one of the four legislators from both sides of Hong Kong’s political divide to visit Washington on a recent trip, said government officials had nothing to worry about if they held true to the “one country, two systems” principle and the Basic Law.

“But they have let Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy wither away over time,” Kwok said.

He also challenged the chief executive’s claim of foreign interference, saying: “Does Lam also want the Hong Kong Policy Act to be cancelled if she dislikes all these so-called foreign interference?”

Last Sunday, thousands marched to the US consulate in Hong Kong to call for the bill’s passage, before some protesters turned violent.

Marchers carried US flags and placards that read: “President Trump, please liberate Hong Kong.”

The anti-government movement, now into its 14th week, has rocked the city, leading to several violent clashes with police and more than 1,000 arrests. Officers have used tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is currently being vetted by congressional committees and there is no set date for it to be put before legislators.

Any agreements that we have are not exclusively for the benefit of Hong Kong
Chief Executive Carrie Lam

Next Tuesday, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China is set to hold a hearing attended by Wong, pro-democracy activist and singer Denise Ho Wan-sze, and University of Hong Kong student leader Sunny Ho.

The hearing will “examine developments in Hong Kong and the future of US-Hong Kong relations”, in light of the ongoing protests, and “escalating tensions caused by police violence and threats by the Chinese government against Hong Kong’s autonomy”.

State media warns Hong Kong protesters not to try Beijing’s patience

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are believed to be planning to introduce further legislation to suspend exports of riot-control equipment and services to the Hong Kong police.

On Tuesday, Lam also said some 1,400 American firms in the city enjoyed benefits from the “positive bilateral relationship” between Hong Kong and the US.

“Any agreements that we have, or any particular provisions applied to Hong Kong, from the Americans, are not exclusively for the benefit of Hong Kong,” she said.

“But to interfere in Hong Kong’s internal affairs … this is totally unnecessary.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Lam vows US will not play role in city affairs
Post