HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s main representative office in Hong Kong condemned what it called serious US interference in the Asian financial center, calling President Donald Trump’s move to end the city’s special status as ” mafia logic and harassment “.
In a strongly worded statement Wednesday night, the Hong Kong Liaison Office said the sanctions would not have a substantial impact on the special administrative region and would rather harm the United States’ own interests.
“Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats from the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behavior,” the statement said.
“No external force can block China’s determination and confidence to maintain national sovereignty and security for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.”
The security law imposed by Beijing punishes what China defines in general terms as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Critics of the law fear it will crush the extensive freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, while supporters say it will bring stability to the city after a year of sometimes violent anti-government protests.
The Chinese government said it had a sovereign duty and a legitimate right to maintain national security in Hong Kong and end the “chaos” caused by last year’s often violent protests.
In response to the law, Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to end preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Beijing would impose retaliatory sanctions on US individuals and entities in response to a US law targeting banks that deal with Chinese officials who implement Hong Kong’s security law.
China has called on the United States ambassador to protest against the Hong Kong Autonomy Law, Beijing said.
The Hong Kong government in a statement Wednesday night said it fully supports the central government in taking countermeasures against the United States.
“It is hypocritical for the US to introduce measures to attack China by creating problems in (Hong Kong) under the guise of human rights, democracy and autonomy from its own political considerations.”
White House discussions are ongoing on possible targets for sanctions on Hong Kong and no final decisions have been made, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Among the names promoted by some Chinese hawks is Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has supported the implementation of the Beijing security law, the source said.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said Wednesday that he feels safe in London at the moment, but described the extraterritorial scope of China’s national security laws as “terrifying” and urged Britain to do more to help.
Written by Farah Master; Editing by Michael Perry
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