Hong Kong security chief slams top American envoy in city over burner phone claims, accuses US of ‘illegal surveillance’ and hits back at Article 23 critics

Security minister Chris Tang points to overwhelming support in public consultation of proposed law, issuing strongly worded rebuke to UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron

‘Illegal surveillance is an expertise of the US,’ Tang says, hitting back at claims by country’s top envoy in city over American firms using burner phones locally

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A public consultation document for the city’s domestic national security law. The US and UK have voiced concern over the protection of rights and freedoms under the legislation. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 4:28pm, 5 Mar 2024Updated: 6:36pm, 5 Mar 2024

Hong Kong’s security chief has slammed Washington’s top envoy in the city for his claims over the use of burner phones by some American companies, accusing the US of being experts in “illegal surveillance” and pushing back against critics of the domestic security law.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Tuesday pointed to the overwhelming support expressed during a one-month public consultation for the coming legislation, which the city is required to pass under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

“[The results] showed that most Hong Kong residents support the Article 23 legislation,” he said, referring to the proposed bill which will introduce five new types of offences – treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, and theft of state secrets and espionage.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says Washington has double standards over surveillance. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Providing slightly updated figures, Tang said 97 of the 13,489 submissions – or less than 1 per cent – opposed the legislation, with about half of them being anonymous or without any clear attribution. Previous official figures showed that 93 out of 13,147 submissions had opposed the law in the consultation that ended last Wednesday.

The United States and United Kingdom have voiced concern over the protection of rights and freedoms under the proposed legislation.

US Consul General Gregory May earlier said the legislation was “the last thing Hong Kong needs”, adding that some American companies had to use burner phones and laptops when visiting the city due to connectivity issues and data security concerns.

Tang hit back on Tuesday, accusing Washington of having double standards and carrying out illegal surveillance.

“I would like to point out that illegal surveillance is an expertise of the United States, as it even intercepts conversations of leaders of other countries,” Tang said.