HONG KONG: Washington’s top diplomat within Hong Kong said China and taiwan should not be “terrified associated with dissenting opinions” as he used a farewell speech on Monday (Jul 11) in order to rebuke Beijing’s crackdown on freedoms in the industry hub.
Hanscom Smith’s three-year term as consul general was caught in mounting difficulties as Beijing plus Washington took opposition sides on the city’s huge, sometimes chaotic pro-democracy protests within 2019.
Tiongkok imposed a sweeping national security law on the city following a protests and Wa implemented sanctions against top Hong Kong officials. US officials confirmed privately that since that time city officials refused to meet with Smith.
The consul general complained that routine diplomatic activities were characterised as “interference” and diplomats have been threatened beneath the security law.
“Strong nations aren’t terrified of dissenting opinions. An exchange of views is not collusion. Attending an event is not interference. The handshake is not ‘a black hand’, ” Smith said in the farewell speech at the American Chamber of Commerce in Hk.
He reaffirmed that Washington did not support Hong Kong self-reliance and “we simply ask Beijing in order to… give the city the autonomy Beijing promised”.
Since its handover to The far east in 1997, Hong Kong has been governed under a “one country, two systems” principle decided by Britain plus China and codified in the city’s mini-constitution.
Under this, China promised to permit Hong Kong to keep its capitalist system, indie judiciary, a high level of autonomy and certain liberties rarely appreciated on the mainland, meant for 50 years.
But the security regulation and ensuing political crackdown have in a big way changed Hong Kong’s political landscape, efficiently stifling dissent.
“No other main global business centre has witnessed this type of significant erosion within the political environment in this short period of time, inch Smith said.
Beijing said the law was necessary for safeguarding national security plus accused “hostile exterior forces” – especially the United States – plus “anti-China elements within Hong Kong” associated with colluding to start secessionist protests within the city.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a rare trip to Hong Kong to commemorate the 25th wedding anniversary of the handover upon Jul 1, stated the city had been “reborn from the fire” as well as the law had “turned chaos into stability”.