Security chief describes US sanctions against officials as triad activities

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the continuous sanctions suggested by the United States officials were more akin to what triads would do to threaten innocent people.

Speaking on a radio show on Sunday, Tang stressed that the SAR has been fulfilling the responsibility of safeguarding national security under the law and to hold lawbreakers accountable is an unalterable principle.

"If foreign governments use sanctions to threaten officials in Hong Kong to protect their 'henchmen,' it's more akin to what triads would do and it's much more immoral and unjust," he described.

Tang further said that during the social movement in 2019, there were many spies in the city trying to slander what the mainland and the SAR government have been saying, and the government will do its utmost to explain the legislation work of Article 23.

The security leader added that after the movement in 2019, the CIA of the US and MI6 of the United Kingdom have increased their intelligence collection since 2021, and he believes most people should know that it relates to extending the spying works.

Tang also stated that common law generally does not have a retroactive effect, but national security law has been listed as having an extraterritorial effect.

As for how to consult on Article 23, he said it has yet to be finalized, but it will definitely be widely consulted.

Separately, a number of groups protested outside the US consulate in Hong Kong and criticized the constituting gross interference in the affairs of the city. Some of them even tore the flag of the United States.