Hong Kong Beijing official warns US envoy after speech

Hong Kong – Chinese diplomat says Hong Kong’s freedoms are being eroded and accuses US consul general in Hong Kong of interfering in the matter after warning Americans not to cross political “red lines” .

Consul General Gregory May video address Last month, he expressed concern over Hong Kong’s decline in freedom, saying its reputation as a business center hinged on international standards and the rule of law.

The Hong Kong Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said former director Liu Guang recently met with May and challenged her “inappropriate” words and actions.

“Mr. Liu also drew three red lines on the US consulate general and the US consulate general in Hong Kong, which does not endanger China’s national security and does not involve political incursions into Hong Kong. and does not tarnish or undermine Hong Kong’s development prospects, his office said in response to an inquiry from The Associated Press.

Liu also urged Prime Minister May to adhere to diplomatic ethics, the secretariat added.

The U.S. consulate in Hong Kong did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In her speech at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies, May also referred to the Chinese parliament’s decision to allow the Hong Kong executive branch to decide whether foreign lawyers can be involved in Hong Kong’s national security affairs. bottom.

of decision Hong Kong’s Supreme Court has ruled pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai on behalf of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai as he battles conspiracy charges, which could carry a life sentence if convicted. Created after allowing the hiring of British lawyers.

Liu’s office accused Mei of defaming Hong Kong’s rule of law and freedom when she questioned legal decisions made in Beijing and other changes in Hong Kong’s governance.

The United States and other democracies have been critical of China’s crackdown on the political freedoms of the former British colonies returned to China in 1997, and have denied Western-style freedoms under the “one country, two systems” framework. There was Beijing’s promise to keep

Hong Kong is one of many issues that have pushed relations between Beijing and Washington to their lowest level in years, including technology and trade, human rights, threats to Taiwan, and China’s claims in the South China Sea.