Beijing fumes as Trump signs bills backing Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters

Policemen from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit search for dangerous materials at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus in Hong Kong. Picture: Ng Han Guan/AP

Policemen from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit search for dangerous materials at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus in Hong Kong. Picture: Ng Han Guan/AP

Published Nov 28, 2019

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Washington/Beijing - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday

signed two bills supporting anti-government protesters in Hong Kong,

drawing Beijing's ire.

"I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi [Jinping],

China, and the people of Hong Kong," Trump said in a statement.

"They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives

of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their

differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday called the move a "serious"

interference with China's internal affairs and a "blatant hegemonic

act."

China accused the US of supporting violent criminals in Hong Kong and

undermining the "one country, two systems" principle in place for

China's governing of the financial hub.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, is guaranteed certain freedoms

until 2047.

"We advise the United States not to act arbitrarily, or China will

resolutely counteract it, and all consequences arising therefrom must

be borne by the United States," the ministry said.

The US Congress last week passed the legislation with a veto-proof

majority.

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentTrump?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidentTrumpsigned #HKHRDA as protestors fighting for the 6th month. This remarkable achievement would not be possible without the persistence and sacrifice of HK people.

— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf)

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act requires sanctions

against Chinese officials who are deemed to be violating freedoms and

committing serious human rights abuses in the city.

It also requires a review of Hong Kong's autonomy from China, to

determine whether the city should benefit from a special trading

status with the US.

There are also provisions in the two bills that bar the export of

non-lethal crowd-control weapons, like tear gas, to Hong Kong's law

enforcement.

After the vote in Congress, China had called on Trump to veto the

bills, and the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned US

Ambassador Terry Branstad.

"Without question, the American people support the people of Hong

Kong, and this law makes that abundantly clear to Hong Kongers, the

international community, and the Chinese Communist Party," said

Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the foreign affairs

committee.

Fellow Republican senator Marco Rubio also praised Trump for signing

the document.

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong stands outside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP

"The U.S. now has new and meaningful tools to deter further influence

and interference from Beijing into Hong Kong's internal affairs," he

wrote in a statement.

Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs

Committee, said that signing the legislation into law "sends a clear

and unequivocal message to the people of Hong Kong: We are with you."

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday

called Trump's signing of the bill "a remarkable achievement."

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/jeffreyngo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jeffreyngobut the unwavering determination to defend HK's freedom drove us along this journey.

— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf)

Wong said on Twitter he and his pro-democracy organization Demosisto

would continue to encourage similar legislative efforts and a

sanctions mechanism.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said the signing

showed the US' support for Hong Kong's democracy.

"We call on both Beijing and the Hong Kong government to address

people's concerns, bringing stability back to Hong Kong as soon as

possible," Ou said.

China and the US are locked in a trade war, with no clear indication

there will be a significant breakthrough in the near future. The Hong

Kong bills could rankle China at this crucial juncture.

Hong Kong has for months been rocked by massive democracy protests,

sparked by a now-defunct bill that would have allowed for the

extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China.

On Wednesday, the High Court in Hong Kong extended until next month

the interim suspension of a ruling that deemed a ban on face masks

unconstitutional.

The government had hoped the controversial ban would discourage

demonstrators, but it actually caused more people to take to the

streets in protest.

dpa

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