Hong Kong, Beijing slam US advisory on Article 23 law as ‘devious tactic’ to hurt economy

China’s foreign ministry arm in the city also demanded Washington lift all sanctions and stop its interference of local affairs

Reading Time:4 minutes

A minister has defended the introduction of national security legislation following criticisms from the US. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 2:05pm, 7 Sep 2024Updated: 11:12pm, 7 Sep 2024

Hong Kong and Beijing authorities have hit back at the US for “intimidating” international investors and using “devious tactics to suppress” the city’s development through a business advisory that warned of “new risks” posed by the domestic national security law.

China’s foreign ministry arm in the city on Saturday also labelled the United States a “disrupter, spoiler and destroyer” of Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, while demanding that Washington lift all sanctions and stop its interference in local affairs.

The US state, treasury, commerce, agriculture and homeland security departments earlier jointly issued an updated Hong Kong Business Advisory, which warned the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance could affect companies and individuals operating in the city.

The legislation, which was required under Article 23 of the city’s Basic Law mini-constitution, took effect on March 23 and is the domestic counterpart of the national security law Beijing imposed in 2020.

According to the US advisory, city authorities could attempt to use the law’s “broadly defined offences” to prosecute those engaging in “routine business activities” such as lobbying, market analysis and due diligence operations “so long as Hong Kong authorities determine that these activities threatened national security”.

The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said it firmly opposed and strongly condemned Washington’s latest move for discrediting the city’s national security laws and the business environment.