We Had To Defend HK To Washington, Says Anson Chan

Former chief secretary Anson Chan says she tried her best during a recent trip to Washington to convince American officials that Hong Kong still enjoys a high degree of autonomy, but it's a role that Chief Executive Carrie Lam should be carrying out herself.

Along with pro-democracy lawmakers Dennis Kwok and Charles Mok, Chan held talks with various top US officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

At a press conference to brief reporters on the outcome of their trip, the trio said serious concerns had been raised in Washington that Beijing is increasingly interfering in Hong Kong affairs.

Chan said it really should not have fallen to them to persuade Washington that Hong Kong still functions as a separate entity to the mainland.

"There’s a real need for the Chief Executive and her team to go personally to America, to Australia, to Canada, to EU countries to hear these concerns, to try and allay these concerns and to the extent that the concerns cannot be allayed, to consider appropriate action," she said.

"If you do not do this, America will come to the conclusion that One Country, Two Systems no longer exists, and this is their sole basis for giving Hong Kong preferential treatment."

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok, meanwhile, said he told US officials that Hong Kong shouldn't be dragged into the Sino-US trade dispute, adding that America's Hong Kong Policy Act – which allows the SAR to be treated as a separate customs area to the mainland – should continue.

Kwok said there were clear indications from officials in the White House as well as congress members that Hong Kong will be more closely monitored.

He added that they have invited Washington to send more high-level delegations to the SAR to look into the current situation.