Hong Kong news – live: China warns UK not to ‘interfere’ in territory as officials ban popular protest slogan
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China has said it would take “corresponding measures” if Boris Johnson’s government pushes forward with its plan to give three million Hong Kong residents the chance to settle in the UK. The Chinese foreign ministry claimed the offer violated previous agreements.
As Beijing faces international condemnation for imposing a new security law on the city, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison suggested his government may follow the UK in offering visas to Hong Kong citizens.
It came as the US Senate approved a bill imposing sanctions on Chinese officials and any Hong Kong police units clashing with protesters. China’s foreign ministry warned of “strong countermeasures” against the US if the bill becomes law.
Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law has posted an English-language Twitter thread on his decision to flee Hong Kong following the introduction of the national security law.
“No Hong Konger is under the illusion that Beijing has any intention to respect our basic rights and honor its promises to us,” Mr Law said.
“Mass arrests have already begun on the first day of the National Security Law's implementation.”
The prominent activist said his appearance at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee had put his safety in “serious jeopardy” and made it difficult for him to stay in the city.
He added: “As a global-facing activist, the choices I have are stark: to stay silent from now on, or to keep engaging in private diplomacy so I can warn the world of the threat of Chinese authoritarian expansion.
“I made the decision when I agreed to testify before the US Congress.”
You can find his full thread below:
Republican senator says Trump must sign ‘Hong Kong Autonomy Act’ ASAP
Republican senator Pat Toomey has called on Donald Trump to sign the “Hong Kong Autonomy Act” which was passed today by the US Senate as soon as possible.
“With our bill, the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] will learn there are ramifications for repressing Hongkongers’ freedom,” Mr Toomey, who introduced the bill with Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen, said.
The bill aims to target China by imposing sanctions on entities which help violate Hong Kong's autonomy and financial institutions which do business with them.
International Bar Association says China law is ‘incompatible’ with fundamental human rights
The International Bar Association has warned China’s national security law is “incompatible with the rule of law and fundamental human rights” and called for it to not be adopted.
“Effectively, law is being used to curtail the democratic freedoms of the semi-autonomous territory,” the organisation said in a statement.
“This is a sad and deeply worrying time for the people of Hong Kong SAR and for their friends across the globe.”
Right to asylum is available to all in Germany, Merkel says
Germany is not planning on introducing specific measures to allow Hong Kong citizens to relocate but Chancellor Angel Merkel has said the right to asylum is already available in the country to anyone in the world.
Ms Merkel added that Europe must continue to have dialogue with China due to its importance in the world.
“We will continue to pursue dialogue with China in all areas: On human rights, on social questions, but also on investor protection, reciprocal trade relations and climate protection, because without China we won’t be able to halt climate change,” she told reporters.
On the issue of offering Hong Kongers a right to citizenship, she said: “The right to asylum in Germany is available to people everywhere, so I don’t see a need for further action on this.”
EU commision president stops short of threatening sanctions against China
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has stopped short of threatening sanctions against China or offering asylum to Hong Kong protesters following the introduction of the new national security law.
Ms Von der Leyen said it was in both the EU and China’s interests to maintain the special status of Hong Kong.
“One-sixth of Chinese exports of goods go to Europe, and China sells goods worth 320bn euros (£288bn) to Europe alone every year," she told reporters in Brussels and Berlin.
“Hong Kong is still the most important hub for China's economic exchange with Europe, not least because of the city's ... special status and the stability and the cosmopolitanism that this city has.
“Both sides should have a strong interest in ensuring that this level of cooperation at least continues.”
She added that “if Europe takes a confident and united position, it will have a long-term effect on China.”
US is ‘bluffing’ with China sanctions over Hong Kong, Global Times says
The state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times has said the US is “bluffing” with its bill to sanction Chinese officials following the introduction of the national security law on Hong Kong.
The newspaper quoted a number of Chinese analysts claiming the legislation would do little to hurt China or change its actions on the bill.
“Most Chinese officials are not businessmen and their needs for financial services are very limited. So the effect of the restrictive US bill is very marginal,” Mei Xinyun, an expert close to China’s government, said, as quoted by Global Times.
“Chinese banks will probably not yield to US bullying as they could complete fundraising in the Chinese mainland.”
Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, was also quoted by the newspaper as saying the US could not sanction China without hurting itself.
“The Trump administration is now facing a dilemma on Hong Kong issues: On the one hand, it needs to take actions to maintain its dignity on the global stage,” they said.
“But on the other, there is no such way to 'sanction' China without hurting itself. The White House is running out of cards except verbally attacking China.”
The US bill will attempt to target China by imposing sanctions on entities which help violate Hong Kong's autonomy and financial institutions which do business with them.
That's all from our live coverage on Hong Kong today - for more rolling news, you can find our coronavirus blog here.
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