Hong Kong elections: Beijing prepares legal fightback as Western governments weigh up sanctioning Chinese officials over polls reform
- Foreign ministry reveals ‘useful legal tools’ are being developed for deployment against foreign forces it accuses of meddling in Hong Kong affairs
- Police chief says overseas agents are using local media and politicians to instil hatred in the city
Beijing has warned Western governments that slapping more sanctions on China will lead to nothing except retribution, as its foreign ministry reveals legal action is being prepared against overseas forces using Hong Kong to damage the country’s interests.
Fang Jianming, deputy commissioner of the ministry’s Hong Kong office, declared Beijing was ready to strike back with measures of its own after the city’s last colonial governor Chris Patten led calls for Britain to impose sanctions on Chinese officials “responsible for the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong”.
Fang’s message was delivered to a Hong Kong event on Thursday which also heard from Zheng Yanxiong, head of Beijing’s locally based national security office, as well as the security and police chiefs, who cautioned overseas politicians against interfering in the city’s affairs.
