Tang defends checks on wanted eight's families

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung condemned the US State Department for slamming arrest warrants issued for eight Hongkongers who had fled overseas and police's taking away their family members for investigation.

"The relevant statement made by the US is an attempt to demonize the actions taken by our law enforcement agencies to safeguard national security," said Tang before departing for Vietnam yesterday.

The State Department on Friday urged the Hong Kong to stop "ongoing harassment of family members in Hong Kong of democracy advocates living overseas," and also called on the Chinese government to respect the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong.

The investigation was described as a form of transnational repression to intimidate and silence individuals abroad and to coerce their return. "We strongly condemn this ongoing campaign of intimidation which is a form of transnational repression," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

In reply, Tang said it is necessary to safeguard the national security in any civilized society.

"The US itself has more than 20 relevant laws, so why do they condemn us when our law-enforcement agencies are safeguarding national security?"

Tang also said Hongkongers are protected under laws that include the Basic Law and the national security law, and have freedoms of speech, procession and assembly.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong also said yesterday the police probe into "anti-China troublemakers" in the SAR and their relatives was completely reasonable.

A spokesman said Hong Kong rights and freedoms have been even better protected since the national security law was implemented in June 2020, but no rights or freedom can override national security.

The US has adopted "double standards" as it has strict national security legislation itself but imposed unlawful sanctions on Hong Kong officials, the spokesman said.