Beijing slams US plan to impose visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials over Article 23 law, calling it ‘despicable’ attempt at bullying

Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong also hits back at US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s criticism of domestic national security law

Spokesman accuses US of trampling ‘on principles of international law and basic norms of international relations’

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Beijing and Washington have entered into a prolonged war of words over Hong Kong’s domestic national security law. Photo: Warton Li

Published: 2:55pm, 30 Mar 2024Updated: 11:25pm, 30 Mar 2024

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has criticised a US plan to impose visa restrictions on local officials over the domestic national security law, calling it a “despicable” attempt at bullying and trying to damage the city’s reputation.

A spokesman for the commissioner’s office of China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong said on Saturday that it strongly objected to the United States publishing a recent policy report that criticised the new legislation and the city’s political climate.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect earlier this month, fulfilling Hong Kong’s obligations under Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

The office also took aim at US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks that Washington was considering travel curbs on Hong Kong officials deemed “responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms”.

“The relevant acts and deeds have confused right and wrong, stigmatised Hong Kong’s national security law … smeared the rule of law, democracy, freedom and human rights in the city,” the office’s spokesman said.

“It has grossly interfered with the city’s affairs and China’s internal affairs, and seriously tramples on the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations.”

The office slammed Washington for its “usual tactic” of releasing an annual report on Hong Kong, which it called “another despicable footnote of US hegemony and bullying” and said the country liked to “ask others to take medicine when it itself is getting sick”.