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Hong Kong national security law
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam slams Trump administration’s ‘double standard’ for city, points to force used at US protests

  • ‘They value very much their own national security, but are biased in viewing ours’, chief executive says in defending new national security law
  • But questions about specifics of Beijing-imposed legislation, including whether Tiananmen vigils will continue in the future, go unanswered

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A planned security law for Hong Kong has sparked concerns about issues including freedom of speech among some residents. Photo: Sun Yeung
Kimmy Chung
Hong Kong’s leader has slammed the United States for applying a “double standard”, pointing to the tough approach it has taken at recent protests in defence of its own security while attacking the national security law Beijing is now drafting for Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor hit back at the US on Tuesday as President Donald Trump, who on Saturday said his government would move to eliminate special policy exemptions granted to the city, vowed to end violent protests across the country sparked by the death of a black man in police custody.

US President Donald Trump (right), who last week threatened sanctions over Hong Kong’s perceived lack of autonomy, on Tuesday called for strong action against US rioters. Photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump (right), who last week threatened sanctions over Hong Kong’s perceived lack of autonomy, on Tuesday called for strong action against US rioters. Photo: AFP
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“For some countries that have had a high-profile response and claimed they will take action, I can only describe them as upholding double standards,” Lam said, speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning. “They value very much their own national security, but are biased in viewing ours.”

Lam said the “double standards” were widely known, adding: “There are riots in the United States and we see how local governments reacted. And then in Hong Kong, when we had similar riots, we saw what position they adopted.”

There are riots in the United States and we see how local governments reacted. And then in Hong Kong, when we had similar riots, we saw what position they adopted
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam

Protests have erupted across the US in the week since George Floyd died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, who used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground for nine minutes.

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