CHINA WARNS US OVER HK LAW SANCTIONS
FIRMLY OPPOSE MOVE, SAYS BEIJING AS IT THREATENS COUNTERMEASURES
BEIJING/ HONG KONG: China on Thursday warned of strong countermeasures if the US, Australia and the UK continued taking actions in response to Beijing’s tough national security law for Hong Kong, saying foreign pressure would “never succeed”.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China “deplores and firmly opposes” the US House of Representatives’ unanimous passing of a bill on Wednesday. The bill would level sanctions on banks that do business with Chinese officials involved in clamping down on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters.
Hundreds more were arrested during demonstrations against the law, which came into effect on Tuesday midnight.
“The US attempt to obstruct this law is doomed to fail,” Zhao said at a briefing in Beijing. “We urge the US side to grasp the situation, abide by the basic norms of international law and international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and advancing or implementing this negative bill. Otherwise we will take strong countermeasures and they have to bear all the consequences.”
China’s move to impose the security law risks reshaping the financial hub’s character, 23 years after Beijing took control of the former British colony. The law’s vague language generated confusion about what activities were allowed, adding uncertainty for some businesses that have operations in Hong Kong in part because of its independent British-inspired legal system.
The UK has vowed to upgrade the status of British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders in Hong Kong, offering a path to citizenship. Some 350,000 Hong Kongers are BNOs and another 2.5 million of the city’s 7.5 million people are also eligible.
“China strongly condemns that and reserves the right to make further reactions,” Zhao said, adding that all BNO passport holders were Chinese citizens. “All the consequences shall be borne by the UK side.”
Australian PM Scott Morrison said his cabinet was “very actively” considering offering Hong Kongers safe haven, without giving further details. Zhao urged Australia to “stop moving further down the wrong path”.
Chinese officials on Wednesday described the law as a “Sword of Damocles” hanging over the heads of its most strident critics.
On Thursday, Hong Kong police arrested a 24-year-old man at the city’s airport on suspicion of stabbing an officer during protests against the law
However, there were no further signs of protests on Thursday. Police posted pictures on Twitter from Wednesday’s disturbances, showing an officer with a bleeding arm saying he was stabbed by “rioters holding sharp objects”.
Taiwan citizens should avoid unnecessary visits to or transit through Hong Kong, Macau or mainland China after the passing of the law, a Taiwan government official said on Thursday.
Chiu Chui Cheng, deputy head of Taiwan’s mainland affairs council, said the security law was the “the most outrageous in history”.