Guoan Law｜Smoker: If Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is eroded, it is difficult to maintain the competitiveness of financial centers

Political situation

Written by Peng Zhuowei

2020-07-06 10:11

The National Security Act of the Port Area was formally implemented in Hong Kong last week. The US Consul General in Hong Kong and Macao, Hanscom Smith, said today (6th) that he is very concerned about the foundations that will affect Hong Kong after legislation, including openness, commercial transparency and freedom of speech. He also believes that the National Security Law weakens Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and runs counter to one country, two systems.

Smoke worries that if Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy is eroded, it will be difficult to maintain its competitiveness as an international financial center, hoping that China will respect the Sino-British Joint Declaration and has repeatedly emphasized that “let Hong Kong continue to be Hong Kong (Let Hong Kong be Hong Kong) )", he also mentioned that the US government is reviewing different measures in response to Beijing’s actions.

When attending the Hong Kong and Taiwan English Channel program, Shi Moke said that the United States has taken substantive actions to respond to Hong Kong's legislation, including the adoption of the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act", requiring sanctions on officials and relevant banks that formulated the "National Security Act of the Hong Kong District", and announced that they will stop exporting to Hong Kong. For defense products, new restrictions are imposed on technology trade. He also pointed out that the United States will take all feasible measures to maintain a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, but does not comment on when President Trump will sign the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act."

Shi Moke also pointed out that there is a provision in the National Security Law that targets "collusion of foreign powers", which has caused certain troubles to the American community and enterprises in Hong Kong. They will try their best to safeguard the interests of American enterprises in Hong Kong and reflect their concerns.

For the Hong Kong government's arrest of demonstrators who held articles such as "Recovering Hong Kong" on the grounds of violating the National Security Law, Shi Moke feared that it would damage Hong Kong people's basic human rights and freedoms and create white terror, thinking that it was "a tragedy" for Hong Kong.

At 11 pm on June 30, 2020, the National Security Law of the Minato District was formally implemented. (Profile picture / Photo by Zeng Ziyang)

Shi Moke, US Consul General in Hong Kong and Macao: Support Hong Kong’s cherished freedom, judicial system and lifestyle

U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong and Macao, Shi Moke, will replace Tang Weikang

Hong Kong version of the National Security Law