HONG KONG - Former Hong Kong police commissioner Tang King-shing slammed the United States for imposing “illogical” sanctions against senior officials who serve their home country faithfully, as well as twisting Hong Kong’s real situation in order to push for the US political agenda.
Tang, in a one-on-one interview with China Daily on Sunday, said he was infuriated when he first heard the US was imposing such “unreasonable, irrational, and illogical” sanctions on 11 senior officials of the central government and the SAR officials.
By imposing these so-called sanctions, the US administration is trying to show support for the social unrest had plagued Hong Kong over the past year, while also openly backing opposition activists who neither support the Basic Law, nor “one country, two systems”, Tang said
“Why on Earth would senior officials within the central government and the HKSAR government get sanctioned by another country simply by doing their work and fulfilling their duties,” Tang asked.
Tang pointed out that the 11 officials named in the US announcement are key figures who have been devoting every effort to safeguard the nation’s national security and uphold the city’s law and order ever since the violent protests erupted in 2019.
By imposing these so-called sanctions, the US administration is trying to show support for the social unrest had plagued Hong Kong over the past year, while also openly backing opposition activists who neither support the Basic Law, nor “one country, two systems”, Tang said. “That’s why those 11 officials are targeted,” he added.
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The US government is distorting what is really happening in Hong Kong, all for the sake its own broader political agenda and undermining China’s national sovereignty, Tang said. “But there is no place whatsoever for the US to interfere or make irresponsible remarks.”
Asked about the legal issues associated with government’s one-year postponement of the Legislative Council election that had been scheduled for Sept 6, Tang said guidance from Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is of paramount importance to offer the SAR government a “clearer direction” in dealing with this unprecedented situation.
From a constitutional point of view, even within the legal framework of the current Hong Kong laws and Basic Law, there are no such “vacuum period” arrangement clearly laid out, Tang said
“Hence, for the NPC Standing Committee to look at it in the best interests of Hong Kong, to tell us the best way forward,” Tang said, adding that this is the most rational and logical way to address the situation, in his opinion.
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Tang said he greatly appreciated the central government for taking such swift actionin addressing the SAR’s the most urgent needs, as the function of Legislative Council is not only to enact laws, but also to approve public expenditure, which is vital for the city to maintain prosperity, stability and development.
“Hong Kong has always gotten a very quick response from the central government, whenever there’s been a need for assistance, and also to put things back onto the right path,” Tang said.
