U.S. diplomat rues ‘tragedy’ in territory
HONG KONG — The top American diplomat in Hong Kong said Monday that it is a “tragedy” to use the semiautonomous Chinese territory’s new national security law to chip away at “fundamental freedoms” in the Asian financial hub.
“Using the national security law to erode fundamental freedoms and to create an atmosphere of coercion and selfcensorship is a tragedy for Hong Kong,” said Hanscom Smith, U.S. consul general to Hong Kong and Macau. “Hong Kong has been successful precisely because of its openness and we’ll do everything we can to maintain that.“
The law, imposed following antigovernment protests in Hong Kong, makes secessionist, subversive, or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s internal affairs. Any person taking part in activities such as shouting slogans or holding up banners and flags calling for the city’s independence is violating the law regardless of whether violence is used.
Critics see it as Beijing’s boldest step yet to erase the legal firewall between the former British colony and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system.
Since the law went into effect, the government also has specified that popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time” has separatist connotations and is thus criminalized.
In Hong Kong’s public libraries, books by prodemocracy figures have been pulled from the shelves, including those authored by prominent prodemocracy activist Joshua Wong and politician Tanya Chan. The authority that runs the libraries said it was reviewing the books in light of the new legislation.
Tong Yingkit, 23, is the first person in Hong Kong to be charged under the new law, for allegedly driving a motorcycle into a group of police officers while bearing a flag with the “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time” slogan.
Tong appeared in court Monday, facing charges of incitement to secession and terrorist activities. He was denied bail and remanded in custody.
On Monday, a group of about 10 protesters gathered at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, holding up signs calling for city leader Carrie Lam to step down, as well as reiterating protesters’ five demands from the prodemocracy movement last year. The demands include an independent inquiry into the police and universal suffrage.