Govt Slams US For 'self-defeating' Moves Against HK

The government on Thursday slammed Washington for suspending or terminating three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong, issuing a “severe reprimand” of the unilateral moves that it says would only hurt the US more than the SAR.

The US State Department had cited Hong Kong’s new national security law – saying it has “crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong” – in announcing its decision to stop honouring agreements to transfer fugitives and convicts between the two sides, as well as one that allows for reciprocal tax exemptions on proceeds derived from international shipping.

But in a statement, an SAR government spokesman said it’s the US action that merits international condemnation – not Beijing’s decision to impose the security law.

“The US' unilateral decision reflects its disrespect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community," he said.

The spokesman said the US move to stop reciprocal tax exemptions for shipping proceeds would increase operating costs for firms from both sides, but noted that US companies would be disproportionately affected because they would have to pay taxes to both Hong Kong and US authorities – while local shippers would only pay US taxes as they are exempt from local duties.

“[The termination of the agreement] would hamper the development of the shipping sector between Hong Kong and US, and is to nobody's interest," he concluded.

The spokesman also noted that since a separate agreement on the transfer of fugitives was agreed in 1998, Hong Kong has handed over 69 people accused of serious criminal offences to the US – triple the 23 offenders that Washington surrendered to the SAR.

This, he said, suggests that the suspension of this agreement will have a greater impact on US law enforcement, and prevent them from bringing to justice those accused of grave offences including murder, rape, and corruption.

“[The] suspension of the SFO Agreement will only allow such criminals to evade legal sanctions and thus failing to uphold justice for the victims”, the spokesman said.

“As such, the US will need to be answerable to the rule of law, to the American people and to the international community at large".

As to the termination of the bilateral agreement to transfer convicted criminals back to their respective homes, where they can receive visits from family and friends in an environment free of language or cultural barriers, the spokesman said the move “eliminates the possibility of such transfers and defies values of humanitarianism.”

He noted that the government hasn’t approved any transfer application since 2012, after US authorities reduced the sentence of a drug offender from 24 years to five after his return.

“We doubt whether full justice has been done in upholding law and order," the spokesman opined.

As the government had done in response to previous moves by the US to punish Hong Kong authorities for alleged suppression of freedoms here, the spokesman used strong language to accuse Washington of meddling in China’s internal affairs.

"The HKSAR Government strongly objects to and deplores the US' action, which is widely seen as a move to create troubles in China-US relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn”, he said.

The Foreign Ministry later said Hong Kong will suspend its agreement on mutual legal assistance with the US.

______________________________