US condemns China's 'disastrous' security law proposal for HK
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday rebuked China because of its proposed national security legislation on Hong Kong, calling it arbitrary and disastrous and saying it might have an impact on the favorable US treatment of the territory.
"AMERICA condemns the... proposal to unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong," Pompeo said in a statement.
"AMERICA strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kong's high amount of autonomy, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under US law."
The statement from the very best US diplomat went beyond the State Department's warning on Thursday to China and showed how rapidly the world has reacted to news that Beijing is defined to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong, despite last year's pro-democracy protests in the territory.
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act approved by US President Donald Trump this past year requires the State Department to certify at least annually that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to justify favorable US trading conditions which have helped it maintain its position as a global financial centre. "Any decision impinging on Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms as guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the essential Law would inevitably impact our assessment of 1 Country, Two Systems and the status of the territory," Mr Pompeo said.
--- Reuters, Washington
