Protests against US sanctions bill heat up

Michael Shum and Wallis Wang

Executive Council convener Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee renewed calls that US sanctions might prompt national security cases in Hong Kong to be tried in the mainland, as she staged a rare protest along with other politicians and citizens outside the US consulate in Central.

The protesters slammed the five US bipartisan congressmen in the House of Representatives and the Senate, who on Friday proposed the Hong Kong Sanctions Act against 49 officials, judges and prosecutors.

Staging a protest for the first time in recent years, Ip said the national security law has brought peace and stability, while attacking the US politicians for their groundless smearing that "the law is suppressing human rights."

China has already enacted an anti-foreign sanctions law, but authorities will carefully consider whether it should be included in the Basic Law Annex III to be implemented in the SAR, she said.

Ip warned under the national security law, cases which cannot be heard in Hong Kong can be transferred to the mainland. She urged US politicians to learn about the law before making random threats.

"Western commentary and media always criticized our laws of being unclear, but the Hong Kong Autonomy Act signed into law by then US President Donald Trump on July 14, 2020, was also unclear. It says Hong Kong endangers the national security in the US, where is the evidence?" she said.

Ip said the US sanctions do not have a huge impact except for causing a bit of inconvenience to sanctioned officials, who are more determined to carry out their duties.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong also protested, with DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan describing the sanction as "terrorist behavior."

Some 30 people also protested outside the consulate, tearing up the American flag printed on A4 paper in anger.

The Small and Medium Law Firms Association of Hong Kong "strongly condemned" the US bill, saying it is an attempt to intervene in the SAR's judicial independence.

"The association fully supports Hong Kong officials to safeguard national security and judicial officers to uphold the rule of law, administer justice and exercise independent judicial power in a fearless, impartial, selfless and honest spirit without interference from foreign forces," it said in a statement.

Peter Lam Kin-ngok, a Hong Kong member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said the proposed sanction will destroy the SAR's judicial independence, which is the strongest protection of Hong Kong's favorable business environment.

The rule of law is the foundation of the SAR's business environment and the Basic Law protects its judicial independence, Lam said.

He added that the national security law has restored stability and order apart from protecting the business environment.

Lam said some US politicians have blatantly interfered in Hong Kong's internal affairs and tried to intimidate judicial officers and law enforcers.

All enterprises benefit from the SAR's judicial system, and the US bill would harm foreign corporations, including those from America, he said.

The Hong Kong community should stay united and support the administration in safeguarding national security, he added.