Beijing hits back at US for ‘desecrating’ Hong Kong’s rule of law after country accuses city authorities of harassing wanted activists’ families
- China’s foreign affairs office in Hong Kong slams US over double standards, points to country’s own ‘airtight’ national security legislation with ‘long-arm jurisdiction’
- US State Department earlier accused Hong Kong authorities of ongoing harassment of family members of five wanted activists and jailed opposition figure Joshua Wong
Beijing has hit back at the US for “desecrating” Hong Kong’s rule of law after city authorities were accused by Washington of “ongoing harassment” against the family members of five wanted activists and a jailed opposition figure.
A spokesman for China’s foreign affairs office in Hong Kong on Sunday hit back at the US, describing such claims as double standards since Washington had its own “airtight” national security legislation and employed a “long-arm jurisdiction” to impose “illegal and unilateral sanctions” on other countries.
“No country can sit idly by and ignore acts that endanger national security,” he said.
The spokesman added that Hongkongers had continued to enjoy rights and freedoms guaranteed under a “safer environment” since the city’s own legislation was introduced, but argued such liberties should not curtail national security.
Beijing’s remarks came after the US State Department on Friday accused Hong Kong authorities of “ongoing harassment” against the family members of the activists.
The country’s statement named five individuals wanted by Hong Kong police and a jailed activist in the city, whose family members and acquaintances have been detained and questioned by officers.
They are Anna Kwok Fung-yee, Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, Dennis Kwok Wing-hang, Christopher Mung Siu-tat, Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, who is behind bars.
