US meddling in SAR affairs slammed
Hong Kong political heavyweights took aim at the top American diplomat on Thursday, criticizing his remarks on city legislation to enact a national security law and calling the comments blatant inference in local affairs.
They also questioned whether US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s remarks were intended to divert public attention at a time when the American government is coming under fire for bungled COVID19 response.
Pompeo said on Thursday that the United States objected to Hong Kong’s legislation to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law. The article stipulates that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws to safeguard national security. Pompeo claimed such legislation would harm US interests.
Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, underscored that the US is not entitled to step into any Hong Kong affairs because the special administrative region is part of China, not the US.
As a part of China, the HKSAR bears the constitutional responsibility to enact laws that protect national security and safeguard local stability, he continued.
The political veteran also questioned the US’ reasons for objecting to the legislation. He said only those who are attempting to overthrow the Chinese government would raise objections to the legislation.
National People’s Congress Deputy Stanley Ng Chau-pei also condemned Pompeo’s remarks, saying he could not see how the legislation would harm the US’ interest in any way.
What the US really is concerned about is whether it will face restrictions when meddling in Hong Kong affairs after the national law is enacted in the city, Ng said.
It is a must to enact Article 23 as it could defend Hong Kong’s social stability and prevent any foreign forces from destabilizing Hong Kong, Ng said, adding the SAR government should never yield an inch when it comes to issues that relate to national security.
Ng also agreed that the remarks came as the US government tries to shift the blame that target its pandemic control. He urged Americans to stop distorting the truth and stay focused on combating COVID-19 in their country.
Meanwhile, former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying posed a question to the public after seeing Pompeo’s remarks, saying, “The Chinese mainland, where the national security law has been enacted, has as many Americans who work and live there as in Hong Kong. Why is that?”
Posting the question in his social media account, Leung, a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, noted that some people in Hong Kong are becoming more and more ignorant about protecting national security and that’s why the need to start legislation to enact Article 23 becomes more and more urgent.