Chris Tang hits out at New York Times over ‘scaremongering remarks’

Hong Kong’s security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung wrote to the New York Times on Wednesday to condemn an “extremely misleading opinion piece” and urged the newspaper to stop publishing “scaremongering remarks”. 

The opinion piece titled “Hong Kongers Now Only Whisper About Freedom” was published on Tuesday. 

Tang said offenses stipulated by the Beijing-imposed Hong Kong National Security Law and the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define elements of offenses with clarity. 

“Law-abiding persons, including ordinary travelers to Hong Kong, will not engage in acts and activities endangering our national security and will not unwittingly violate the law,” Tang said. 

“[I]n relation to the offense of possessing seditious publication in the ordinance, it is clearly provided that a person commits the offense only if he or she possesses a publication that has a seditious intention without reasonable excuse.” 

The security chief added that it will be determined whether a publication has seditious intent after all relevant circumstances are taken into consideration. 

“Besides, it is not possible for a person who does not know that the publication concerned has a seditious intention to be convicted,” he also said. 

Tang continued that the rights and freedoms provided by the Basic Law and relevant international human rights conventions are protected in accordance with the ordinance. 

Tang also urged the New York Times to ensure that reports concerning Hong Kong are fair and just, and stop making scaremongering remarks.