Hong Kong ‘vehemently refutes’ US advisory report suggesting city is ‘in a new era of total control’ with rubber-stamp legislature, vanished freedoms
- Government spokesman says ‘despicable political motives’ of report writers have been laid bare, warning the US to stop its malicious interference in city affairs
- Findings by US-China Economic and Security Review Commission involve chapter on city criticising its laws, electoral system and pandemic policy
The Hong Kong government has “vehemently” rejected a report by a Washington advisory group that said the city was “in a new era of total control” with a rubber-stamp legislature and vanished freedoms.
A government spokesman on Wednesday told the United States to stop malicious interference in the affairs of Hong Kong after a report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission made “slandering remarks” and “ill-intentioned political attacks” on Beijing and the city.
The 2,700-word rebuke from the city authorities came just two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Joe Biden held a three-hour face-to-face talk in Bali.
The commission, which makes a report to Congress every year, collected views and recommendations on threats posed by China from a range of experts across government, business and research sectors.
