Hong Kong hits back at UK-based pressure group for ‘despicable’ manoeuvres against city officials

Authorities respond fiercely to Hong Kong Watch’s call to sanction city leader John Lee and five ministers over newly enacted national security law

Government calls group an ‘anti-China organisation’ bent on ‘destabilising’ Hong Kong and urges public not to be misled by their ‘ulterior motives’

2-MIN READ2-MIN

The government has hit back at Hong Kong Watch for its ‘despicable’ efforts to intimidate city leaders. Photo: Hong Kong Watch

Published: 12:24pm, 21 May 2024Updated: 7:45pm, 21 May 2024

Hong Kong has hit back at a UK-based pressure group for its “despicable political manipulation to intimidate” city officials by calling for sanctions against the chief executive and five ministers over the newly enacted domestic national security law.

In a statement issued on Monday night, the government slammed Hong Kong Watch as an “anti-China organisation”, accusing many of its members of being “destabilising forces in the front line” and urging the public “not to be misled by its skewed remarks with ulterior motives”.

“[Hong Kong] despises such so-called ‘sanctions’ and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. [We] will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security,” a government spokesman said.

The administration was responding to Hong Kong Watch’s latest report, titled “The Sanctions List: Why the UK Must Sanction Hong Kong Officials in the Aftermath of Article 23”, which urged the United Kingdom to sanction Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and five government ministers.

The five were Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan.

Hong Kong Watch’s latest report called for sanctions against Chief Executive John Lee and five ministers over the national security law. Photo: Elson Li

“The UK government imposing sanctions on Hong Kong officials would send a strong and needed message to the international community that Article 23 legislation is a severe infringement of Hong Kong’s obligations under international human rights law,” said Benedict Rogers, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, referring to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance enacted in March.