CFHK Foundation condemned for intimidating Chinese and Hong Kong officials

The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation was strongly condemned by the government on Sunday for blatantly requesting the United States impose sanctions on the Chinese and HKSAR officials, in particular those taking part in the Article 23 legislation.

The government labeled CFHK an anti-China organization in the statement and added that the Foundation smeared the Safeguarding National Security Bill (the Bill), which may constitute the offense of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security."

"The CFHK Foundation attempted to collude with a foreign country or with external elements, and blatantly clamored at this juncture for so-called 'sanctions' against dutiful officials of the Central and HKSAR governments with a view to intimidating them," the government spokesman said, referring the Bill is under scrutiny of the Bills Committee of the Legislative Council. "(It) completely ignoring the due legislative procedures of the HKSAR and fully demonstrating its despicable intention."

The spokesman further stated that Hui Wing-ting, who is wanted by the national security police for allegedly committed offenses including incitement to subvert state power and collusion with foreign forces, is a core member of the CFHK Foundation. 

"The Foundation has initiated a number of anti-China campaigns, including requesting the imposition of so-called "sanctions" on officials of the Central and HKSAR governments as well as closure of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the US," the statement wrote.

The spokesman noted that the acts of the Foundation demonstrated the necessity of the measures in the Bill proposing to target absconders charged with offenses endangering national security, including the prohibition against making available funds to, or dealing with funds of, an absconder, as well as cancellation of SAR passport.

Separately, the Bills Committee continues to scrutinize the bill on Sunday, and yet another special meeting will be convened tomorrow (Mar 11), which will be the fourth consecutive day for the Committee to review the bill.

Some lawmakers asked whether keeping the publications of the now-defunct Apple Daily would constitute possession of seditious publications; Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said it depends on whether the possessor has a reasonable explanation and also if the people involved have an intention to incite.