World Courant
Why does it matter {that a} Chinese language blogger utilizing the pseudonym “Jing Haihou” says native officers and legislators should take motion to protect Hong Kong’s distinctive “two programs” benefit to draw funding and those that have left town to to encourage coming again?
What makes that necessary is that Jing is believed to signify the views of Beijing’s political elites when he berates the Hong Kong authorities for overzealously imposing the 2020 Nationwide Safety Regulation and thereby deterring international buyers.
The timing can also be necessary: Jing’s remarks comply with the July 6-9 go to to Beijing of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, a meek American politician. Washington and Beijing had resumed high-level commerce talks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese language President Xi Jinping on June 20.
“Because the introduction of the Nationwide Safety Regulation, some individuals, together with officers and legislators, have used the legislation as a trump card to advertise their insurance policies and as a protect to cover their duty for coverage errors,” says Jing.
Lu Xun. Picture: The China Venture
He says some officers have acted with out pondering by way of authorities choices, equivalent to eradicating Chinese language author Lu Xun’s books from public libraries and banning non-political movies. Lu Xun is the pseudonym of Chinese language liberal novelist Zhou Shuren (1881-1936), whose books are nonetheless allowed for distribution in mainland China.
Jing complains that some individuals don’t hearken to rational criticism, have a leftist mentality, and all the time confuse “contradictions between the individuals” and “contradictions between ourselves and the enemy.” He says the abuse of the Nationwide Safety Act is just not what the central authorities desires to see below its precept of “patriots working Hong Kong”.
He additionally says that connecting Hong Kong to the surface world is a prerequisite for China’s continued improvement. Sustaining a diversified tradition is the one approach Hong Kong can bolster its standing, he says, concluding that “diversification means extra gold,” a reference to international funding.
Regina IP. Photograph: Jun Hyun YONG/Flickr
Jing’s feedback had been reported by the Singtao each day, a pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper, on July 11. Professional-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong had been initially shocked by these feedback. However they then stated they agreed with them – a mark of recognition that Jing’s views mirror these of Beijing’s prime leaders.
Regina Ip, chair of the Government Council, stated Hong Kong should keep away from shedding its uniqueness or turning into simply one other metropolis like so many on the mainland.
Lau Siu-kai, an adviser to the Chinese language Affiliation of Hong Kong and Macau Research, stated guaranteeing nationwide safety stays Hong Kong’s prime precedence, however the authorities ought to consider the issues of international buyers and native individuals about freedoms and human rights.
Hong Kong commentator Sam Ng stated Beijing now realizes that tight management over Hong Kong is just not fulfilling its objective of attracting international funding. Nevertheless, Ng stated it has remained unclear what Beijing will do subsequent.
Within the first 5 months of this yr, China’s international direct funding fell 5.6% from a yr in the past. For many years, most international funding has entered mainland China by way of Hong Kong.
Commerce places of work in Hong Kong
Even when Beijing now revises its Hong Kong coverage, it might be a bit too late because the US Congress has moved one step nearer to passing a invoice that can give the US authorities the ability to evaluation the standing of the Hong Kong financial system and even shut. and commerce places of work (HKETOs) in Washington, DC, New York and San Francisco.
In February, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Jeff Merkley reintroduced the HKETO Certification Act to reevaluate the US’ recognition of HKETOs. U.S. Congressmen Chris Smith and Jim McGovern additionally launched companion laws within the U.S. Home of Representatives.
On July 13, the Senate International Relations Committee handed the invoice, which have to be accepted by each homes of Congress and signed by the president to turn out to be legislation.
“Sadly, Hong Kong is neither autonomous nor democratic as China’s genocidal regime continues to undermine town’s elementary freedoms,” Rubio stated in an announcement. rack. “HKETOs not deserve diplomatic immunity in our nation. As such, their privileges ought to be revoked.”
“The unhappy actuality,” stated Merkley, “is that the HKETOs now function propaganda weapons for the Chinese language authorities. The committee’s passage of this bipartisan invoice is a robust step ahead within the protection of the individuals of Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong authorities robust convicted the US Senate Committee on Passing the Regulation and Interfering within the Affairs of Hong Kong. It stated it can proceed to implement the Nationwide Safety Regulation resolutely, absolutely and faithfully.
“A small variety of politicians within the US ignored the unanimous calls for of the Hong Kong individuals for stability, progress and improvement and the widespread pursuits of the worldwide neighborhood in Hong Kong,” stated an unnamed spokesman for the Chinese language International Ministry’s commissioner’s workplace in Hong Kong. . stated on July 14.
“They’ve intentionally handed unhealthy legal guidelines concerning Hong Kong and politicized financial and commerce points to serve their very own political self-interest,” the spokesman stated. “This hides their evil intent to ‘include China with Hong Kong’ and expose their harassment and hegemony.”
The present Nationwide Safety Regulation prohibits acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with international forces.
Final month, Chief Government John Lee stated Hong Kong will go one other safety legislation this yr or in 2024 in accordance with Article 23 of the Fundamental Regulation. The brand new legislation will cowl acts of treason, sedition, theft of state secrets and techniques and conducting political actions within the metropolis.
In early June, Beijing known as on the US to permit Lee to attend the APEC summit to be held in San Francisco later this yr. Lee was sanctioned by the US for main the police crackdown on anti-rendition protests in late 2019 and early 2020.
Learn: China’s June exports hit by weak Western demand
Observe Jeff Pao on Twitter at @jeffpao3
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