Carrie Lam assails tinted view of protest response

The Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor  hit back at foreign countries threatening action over Beijing's controversial move to impose a national security law in Hong Kong, saying they have "double standards” when responding to protests here and in their own backyards, RTHK reports.
Every country takes their national security seriously, but they have a tinted view when it comes to China doing the same, Lam told the media ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.
"You know there are riots in the United States and we see how local governments reacted. And then in Hong Kong, when we had similar riots, we saw what position they adopted then."
Protests and riots have broken out all across the US after an unarmed black man died after a brutal arrest by a police officer. President Donald Trump is now threatening to send in the army against the protesters as destruction of property and looting has also been reported in some places.
Referring to Trump’s announcement that he will end Hong Kong’s special trade status, Lam said she hopes Washington will treat the SAR with mutual respect.
Any sanctions or the removing of Hong Kong's special status would only hurt the foreign countries themselves and wouldn't benefit anyone, she warned.
She pointed out that 1,300 US businesses are based in Hong Kong and said American citizens are accorded special treatment by the SAR.
She said Hong Kong unilaterally grants visa free access to US citizens, but Hongkongers don't enjoy this in return.
She added that US businesses in Hong Kong receive the same preferential treatment for access to the mainland market as local firms.
Lam said US businesses account for one fifth of stock market transactions in Hong Kong and the SAR hopes for mutual respect when it comes to bilateral relations with the US government and others.