Govt Rejects US Report On 'dismantling' Of Hong Kong

The US State Department has sternly criticised the central and SAR governments for curtailing Hong Kong people’s freedoms, prompting SAR authorities to insist that human rights are fully protected in the territory.

In its annual human rights report examining individual, civil, political, and worker rights in different countries, the State Department says the Chinese Communist Party “has systematically dismantled Hong Kong’s political freedoms and autonomy in violation of its international commitments”.

Later on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he had certified to congress that Hong Kong does not warrant differential treatment under a law that called for the United States to maintain a relationship with the SAR similar to that enjoyed before the 1997 handover.

The report lists a litany of “significant human rights issues”, including arbitrary arrests, political motivated reprisals against people who are located outside Hong Kong, serious restrictions on free expression, the press and the internet, and substantial interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

It points out that Hong Kong people are not able to change the government peacefully through free and fair elections.

It also notes that since Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong, several organs have been set up to enforce the legislation.

“Because these organs ultimately report to the Chinese central government, and mainland security personnel are reportedly embedded in some of these bodies, the ability of Hong Kong’s civilian authorities to maintain effective control over the security office was no longer clear,” the report says.

“The Office for Safeguarding National Security, which does not fall under the Hong Kong government’s jurisdiction, allows mainland China security elements to operate openly and without accountability to Hong Kong authorities,” it says, adding that such practices contradict the spirit and practice of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and "One country, Two systems".

“Security forces are suspected to have committed some abuses and, after the imposition of the National Security Law, have devoted increasing attention to political cases, including those involving nonviolent protesters, opposition politicians, and activists,” it adds.

The report also flags up the police denial of demonstration permits, more aggressive policing tactics, and says concerns about violating the national security law have put people off taking part in protests.

“China undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy through an escalating erosion of civil liberties and democratic institutions throughout the year,” it said.

In response, the SAR government said it “attaches the utmost importance to and is firmly committed to upholding human rights and various freedoms in Hong Kong”.

It said questions over whether China is willing to uphold One Country, Two Systems are “utterly groundless”.

“Smearing the national security law out of political motivation is clear hypocrisy in adopting double standards," a statement said.

"Foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR,” it added. (RTHK/Reuters)

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