Chanting “Stand with Hong Kong,” pro-democracy activists yesterday urged the world to follow in the US’ footsteps by passing laws backing human rights in the territory, as the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US ambassador and Taiwan’s president said that the bills’ signing lets Hong Kongers know they “are not alone.”
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong (黃之鋒), who was among democracy supporters who lobbied for the new US law, called it a “remarkable achievement,” with human rights triumphing over crucial US-China trade talks.
US President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law on Wednesday.
Photo: Reuters
The law prescribes economic sanctions on Asia’s top financial hub, and diplomatic action on Hong Kong and Chinese officials found guilty of human rights abuses.
It bans the export of certain non-lethal munitions to Hong Kong police.
Wong said that he hopes the law spurs Britain and other Western nations to follow suit.
Photo: AP
He said that later yesterday, he planned to participate in a parliamentary hearing in Italy via Skype to press for further global support.
“Now is the time for the Western world to stand with Hong Kong,” he said.
Echoing Wong’s call, dozens of office workers and activists chanted: “This is what democracy looks like,” and other slogans during a daily lunchtime rally in downtown Hong Kong.
Some urged Washington to penalize Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (林鄭月娥) over the government’s handling of the crisis.
China reacted furiously to the signing of the bill, summoning the US ambassador to strongly protest and warning that the move would undermine cooperation with the Trump administration.
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng (樂玉成) told US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad that the move constituted “serious interference in China’s internal affairs and a serious violation of international law,” a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said.
Le called it a “nakedly hegemonic act” and urged Washington not to implement the law to prevent greater damage to US-China relations, the ministry said.
In a statement about Branstad’s meeting with Le, the US embassy in Beijing said that “the Chinese Communist Party must honor its promises to the Hong Kong people.”
The US “believes that Hong Kong’s autonomy, its adherence to the rule of law and its commitment to protecting civil liberties are key to preserving its special status under US law,” it said.
Asked for comment on the US law, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that they “encourage Hong Kongers and let them know that they are not alone.”
All democracies are concerned about Hong Kong’s situation, Tsai said on the sidelines of an event in Kaohsiung, adding: “Hopefully, Hong Kongers will persevere in their pursuit of democracy, while the Hong Kong government should deal with people’s appeals for democracy and freedom.”
Separately yesterday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) deputy spokesman Huang Hsin-hua (黃心華) said that Trump’s decision was not surprising, as many countries are highly concerned about the territory’s situation.
While the KMT supports freedom of speech for Hong Kongers, violent acts by “rioters” should not be validated, Huang said.
The Hong Kong government should respond to people in the right time and in an appropriate way, and endeavor to restore the territory’s order and prosperity via peaceful means, Huang added.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiao-kuang and CNA
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