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.