United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was very concerned by comments by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, warning that the recent pan-Democratic primary elections could have violated the new security law.
Hong Kong pandemocrats support the rise of democracy and have denounced China’s new security laws.
“If the purpose of the so-called primary elections is to achieve the ultimate goal of … resisting every political initiative in Hong Kong as its government, then it may fall into the category of subverting state power, which is now one of four types of crimes under the new national security law, “Lam said in response to the election.
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The recent primary election had a reported turnout of 600,000 voters, who will select representatives from five different regions to run for the Hong Kong Council on Legislation on September 6, according to the Hong Kong Free Press.
“I warmly congratulate the Hong Kong pandemocrats on their successful primary election,” Pompeo said Tuesday. “His enthusiasm clearly demonstrates his desire to make his voice heard in the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to stifle the freedoms of the territory.”
At a press conference on Monday, Lam said the primary elections were not a legitimate part of the electoral system in Hong Kong.
Later, Lam said the government received many complaints about the recent elections and cited law 599G that prohibits “group meetings of more than 50 people.” She said this was a factor in the investigation that the government will now open in this weekend’s primary election.
He also said the primary election is an “injustice” to the September 6 election and potentially violated the “privacy commission,” although he did not refer to how privacy was violated.
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“If we discover that there is sufficient evidence to take action, we will take action,” Lam said Monday.
New security laws have criminalized secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, with sentences of up to life in prison for those found guilty.
Pro-democracy protesters have been arrested for giving up Hong Kong’s flags of independence and protesting against mainland China’s attempts to gain control in the once semi-autonomous region.
The US has implemented policy changes, such as the rollback of the Hong Kong Special State, which means that it recognized Hong Kong as separate from China and allowed benefits largely through trade and the economy, which means that Hong Kong was not affected by the US trade war
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“We note with great concern the threat from Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam that this primary could have violated Beijing’s new ‘national security’ law for the territory, once again demonstrating the Chinese Communist Party’s fear of the democracy and the free thinking of their own people, “said Pompeo. Tuesday.
“We will be watching events closely, especially as the Legislative Council elections on September 6 get closer,” Pompeo added.
