Beijing Against The US On Visa Restrictions Hong Kong Officials

Airplane (photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has condemned the actions of the United States (US) Ministry of Foreign Affairs which imposed visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials after the prison sentence of 45 pro-democracy activists.

"We firmly oppose the US using relevant judicial cases to interfere in China's domestic affairs and tarnish and weaken Hong Kong's rule of law," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Earlier, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday (19/11) said the US was taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the National Security Act in Hong Kong.

The US also strongly condemned the sentence of 45 defendants who were said to have received prison sentences that changed their lives just because of peaceful participation in protected political activities under Hong Kong law.

"The Chinese central government firmly supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in maintaining national security and punishing various activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law," said Lin Jian.

The US, Lin Jian said, needs to seriously respect China's sovereignty and the supremacy of Hong Kong law, adhere to the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations, and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form.

"If the US insists on imposing visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials, China will take firm countermeasures," Lin Jian stressed.

In a statement, the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Hong Kong authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the 45 people and other political prisoners. The severe punishment is deemed to erode confidence in the Hong Kong justice system and undermine the city's international reputation.

The US also urged China and Hong Kong authorities to uphold Hong Kong's judiciary independence, halt the use of national security laws to silence those who express political views peacefully and restore openness that is critical to Hong Kong's vitality and success.

A Hong Kong court on Tuesday (19/11) sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to subvert.

The activists were arrested in 2021 and charged with conspiracy to carry out subversions under the National Security Act imposed in 2020. The law comes after a massive pro-democracy mass action occurred in 2019 in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong court considers activists guilty of holding an unofficial preliminary election in 2020 to elect the best candidates as legislative candidates.

The vote was followed by more than 600,000 people as an attempt to win over the majority of pro-democracy electorals in Hong Kong, which is a special administrative area from China.

The prosecutor said the action was an attempt to paralyze the government by taking actions that could potentially disrupt the government if they were elected.