ZCZC
BFF-26
CHINA-US-HONGKONG-POLITICS-UNREST
China rebukes Washington after HK activists make Congress plea
BEIJING, Sept 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Beijing Thursday accused Washington of
“adding fuel to the fire” of Hong Kong unrest after leaders of the city’s
pro-democracy movement appealed directly to US lawmakers to exert pressure on
China.
Activists from the semi-autonomous city testified before a congressional
commission in support of US legislation aimed at defending civil rights in
Hong Kong, which has been convulsed by weeks of huge, sometimes violent
rallies.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing Thursday
that the US should “stop supporting violent radical forces and Hong Kong
independence separatists, and stop adding fuel to the fire to the words and
deeds that damage the prosperity and stability of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region.”
Geng called for the US to “stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs in any
form.”
Millions have taken to the streets of Hong Kong in months of protests,
which were initially against a now-dropped bid by its leaders to allow
extraditions to the mainland, but broadened into a wider push for democracy.
The hearing on Tuesday examined legislation that would end Hong Kong’s
special trading status with the US unless the State Department each year
certifies that the city’s authorities are respecting human rights and rule of
law.
Beijing has repeatedly accused “foreign forces” of being behind the pro-
democracy protests.
A related bill under consideration would ban the sale of tear gas, rubber
bullets and other crowd control equipment to the Hong Kong police after
concerns that Western imports abetted their crackdown.
“As I speak, Hong Kong is standing at a critical juncture. The stakes have
never been higher,” said 22-year-old Joshua Wong, one of the most prominent
figures in the largely leaderless movement.
“This is a plea for universal human rights. This is a plea for democracy.
This is a plea for the freedom to choose,” Cantopop star Denise Ho told the
congressional commission.
China summoned Germany’s ambassador last week after Wong visited the
European power and met with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas — a meeting Beijing
branded “disrespectful”.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1540HRS