Beijing Warns US Of Retaliation Over Visa Curbs

The foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said on Saturday that it “resolutely opposes” Washington's decision to impose visa restrictions on some mainland officials, saying the United States must immediately “rectify its mistake” and stop interfering in SAR and mainland affairs or risk “powerful retaliation” from Beijing.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that Washington would restrict visas for a number of Chinese officials, accusing them of "eviscerating" Hong Kong's freedoms through the planned national security law.

But in a statement, the office accused the US of fooling itself and confusing right and wrong by claiming that Beijing has destroyed Hong Kong’s high level of autonomy.

It said nobody is more committed to upholding One Country, Two Systems, and more concerned about Hong Kong’s stability and people’s livelihoods than the central government.

With the national security law about to come into effect in Hong Kong, it said darkness will finally be driven out by light.

The office also called on Washington to stop meddling in SAR affairs by using the Sino-British Joint Declaration as an excuse.

It stressed the gist of the agreement was about China resuming its sovereignty over Hong Kong, which means other countries, including the US and Britain, have no authority or supervisory powers over the SAR.