Hong Kong slams US politician’s call for sanctions against officials over Article 23 law
- Authorities respond to US congressman Adam Schiff’s introduction of resolution to penalise officials over domestic national security law
The city government hit back on Thursday after Democratic congressman Adam Schiff introduced House Resolution 1277 two days earlier in response to the passage of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in March.
The Hong Kong government characterised the action as “smearing and slandering” such legislation, while stressing it would resolutely safeguard national security in accordance with the law despite any threat of sanctions.
“It attempted to use the name of freedom to disguise its despicable political motives and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs which are internal affairs of China … [Hong Kong] will not be intimidated by such despicable behaviour,” it said.
The government also said the city’s legal framework for safeguarding national security was in line with international human rights standards, and only “intruders trying to plunder and loot” would oppose the city’s efforts to safeguard national security.
Schiff’s resolution called on United States President Joe Biden to employ targeted sanctions against Hong Kong officials who are “complicit in using the provisions of the Article 23 legislation, or other legal authorities, to undermine basic rights and freedoms in Hong Kong”.
The ordinance is commonly referred to as the Article 23 law, referring to the section of the Hong Kong Basic Law that required its enactment.
Schiff’s resolution has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, with the entity’s website showing the resolution had made 25 per cent progress.
The resolution also called on “other members of the international community” to impose sanctions and “provide full support to Hongkongers”.
Hong Kong officials have been actively batting back at Western politicians and media outlets criticising the city’s national security policies.
Authorities recently defended the High Court’s decision to hand down a guilty verdict for 14 opposition figures who contested subversion charges in a landmark national security case involving 47 former lawmakers and activists.
