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US raises concerns over mainland China security forces operating in Hong Kong, as it again warns citizens about travelling to city
- US state department tells citizens to reconsider visiting city and expresses concern over what it says is lack of judicial oversight
- But latest travel advisory does lower Covid-19 threat level to moderate
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The US government has warned American citizens about what it called a lack of judicial oversight on mainland Chinese officials enforcing the national security law in Hong Kong, amplifying its travel alert despite scaling back its coronavirus health warning for the city.
Washington lowered its Covid-19 warning after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its level three travel notice from September to level two. This means the risk in relation to the coronavirus pandemic for Hong Kong is now considered moderate as opposed to high.
But the level three rating remained in place for the overall advisory, which the US Department of State issued on Thursday, US time, recommending that its citizens reconsider plans to visit the city.
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Under the national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong on June 30, acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces are punishable by up to life imprisonment.
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China strikes back at US diplomats after fresh national security law sanctions
China strikes back at US diplomats after fresh national security law sanctions
In September, the department warned that under the new legislation, China’s “security forces, including the new Office for Safeguarding National Security, now operate in Hong Kong”.
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