China Tells West Hong Kong ‘None of Your Business’
BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China on Wednesday slammed Western criticism over a new national security law for Hong Kong, saying other countries should keep quiet.
Western governments have claimed that the new law will curb the city’s freedoms and undermine the "One Country, Two Systems” policy meant to protect freedoms unseen on the mainland.
But Beijing officials rebuffed the criticism of the law at a press conference.
"What’s this got to do with you?” said Zhang Xiaoming of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council. "It’s none of your business”.
Officials insisted there had been wide consultation with members of Hong Kong society and hit back at criticism it was undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.
"If what we want is one country, one system, it would have been simple,” Zhang said.
"We are completely able to impose the criminal law, the criminal procedure and the national security law and other national laws on Hong Kong.
"Why would we need to put so much effort into formulating a national security law tailor-made for Hong Kong?”
Zhang also insisted that the law -- which he said cannot be applied retrospectively -- was only to target "a handful of criminals” and "not the entire opposition camp”.
"The purpose of enacting Hong Kong’s National Security Law is definitely not to target Hong Kong’s opposition camp, pro-democracy camp, as the enemy,” he said.
Instead, the One Country, Two Systems policy showed the government’s "political tolerance”, he said.
Zhang also lashed out at suggestions of punishment from other nations.
"As for... some countries now saying that they will impose severe sanctions on some Chinese officials, I think this is the logic of bandits.”
Hong Kong police made the first arrests under the new national security law on Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon police said two people had been arrested under the new law, a man and a woman both carrying Hong Kong secession signs.
"Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law,” security minister John Lee told reporters.
A few thousand protesters defied a ban on rallies to gather in the shopping district of Causeway Bay on Wednesday, blocking some roads.
Riot police responded with water cannon and pepper spray, making at least 70 arrests.
Western governments have claimed that the new law will curb the city’s freedoms and undermine the "One Country, Two Systems” policy meant to protect freedoms unseen on the mainland.
But Beijing officials rebuffed the criticism of the law at a press conference.
"What’s this got to do with you?” said Zhang Xiaoming of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council. "It’s none of your business”.
Officials insisted there had been wide consultation with members of Hong Kong society and hit back at criticism it was undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.
"If what we want is one country, one system, it would have been simple,” Zhang said.
"We are completely able to impose the criminal law, the criminal procedure and the national security law and other national laws on Hong Kong.
"Why would we need to put so much effort into formulating a national security law tailor-made for Hong Kong?”
Zhang also insisted that the law -- which he said cannot be applied retrospectively -- was only to target "a handful of criminals” and "not the entire opposition camp”.
"The purpose of enacting Hong Kong’s National Security Law is definitely not to target Hong Kong’s opposition camp, pro-democracy camp, as the enemy,” he said.
Instead, the One Country, Two Systems policy showed the government’s "political tolerance”, he said.
Zhang also lashed out at suggestions of punishment from other nations.
"As for... some countries now saying that they will impose severe sanctions on some Chinese officials, I think this is the logic of bandits.”
Hong Kong police made the first arrests under the new national security law on Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon police said two people had been arrested under the new law, a man and a woman both carrying Hong Kong secession signs.
"Advocacy for independence of Hong Kong is against the law,” security minister John Lee told reporters.
A few thousand protesters defied a ban on rallies to gather in the shopping district of Causeway Bay on Wednesday, blocking some roads.
Riot police responded with water cannon and pepper spray, making at least 70 arrests.