Residents hold banners and protest against American politicians' threats of sanctioning Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors involved in safeguarding national security, outside the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong on Nov 7, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
A US threat to sanction Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors has drawn renewed fire from the city with many local groups turning out in droves to express their anger on Tuesday.
Several social groups, including the HK Federation of Fujian Associations, have continued to voice their opposition.
The coalition said that Hong Kong has the responsibility to fulfill the duty of safeguarding national security in accordance with the NSL, and the judiciary has the duty to independently adjudicate according to the law
On Monday, the Hong Kong deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) made a collective statement, expressing strong disapproval and resolute opposition against the sanction threat made by some US congressmen.
READ MORE: US threat of sanctions on Hong Kong will backfire
They said that the US has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of other places and impose its will on others.
The deputies pointed out that Hong Kong has rapidly reversed a turbulent situation and realized the transition from chaos to order since the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL), and economic activities have also rapidly returned to normal, thus the effectiveness of the NSL is evident to all.
However, the deputies said that US politicians have turned a deaf ear to this, disrespecting and even ignoring international law, insisting on interfering in Hong Kong's affairs, openly clamoring for the imposition of so-called "sanctions" on the officials, judges, and prosecutors of the SAR who have been performing their duties conscientiously.
In another statement, the Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference jointly denounced the so-called “Hong Kong Sanctions Act” introduced by some US politicians, saying it constitutes an unjustified intervention in the internal affairs of Hong Kong.
They pointed out that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, and the rule of law is the core value of Hong Kong. The Constitution of People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law guarantee that Hong Kong has the right to adjudication and judicial independence, and that there is no interference in the prosecution and trial by the judiciary.
The members called on all Hong Kong residents to unite and resolutely oppose the despicable acts of intervention and intimidation by US politicians, making concerted efforts to support the SAR government and the judiciary in faithfully discharging their constitutional duties, so as to contribute to the maintenance and construction of Hong Kong as a common homeland.
Joining the chorus of criticism, the Hong Kong Coalition expressed their firm opposition and strong condemnation of the use of so-called sanctions, saying it is doomed to be a vain attempt to intimidate SAR officials who safeguard national security and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong.
The coalition said that Hong Kong has the responsibility to fulfill the duty of safeguarding national security in accordance with the NSL, and the judiciary has the duty to independently adjudicate according to the law.
Residents hold banners and protest against American politicians' threats of sanctioning Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors involved in safeguarding national security, outside the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong on Nov 7, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The coalition urged US politicians to recognize the facts and stop threatening Hong Kong's law enforcement and judicial personnel or interfering with Hong Kong's responsibility to safeguard national security. They believed that the SAR government will firmly, fully and accurately implement the NSL, so as to ensure that the steady and sustained implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Friends of Hong Kong Association (FHKA) criticized that the sanction threat is a gross interference in China's internal affairs and the rule of law in the special administrative region, and it is also a complete deviation from the spirit of the rule of law and disregard for international justice.
The association said that since the implementation of NSL, social order in Hong Kong has been rapidly restored, the rule of law has been manifested, and the rights and freedoms of the public have been better safeguarded, which is indispensable to the SAR's law enforcement agencies' impartial performance of their duties and uprightness in enforcing the law.
Residents hold banners and protest against American politicians' threats of sanctioning Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors involved in safeguarding national security, outside the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong on Nov 7, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The despicable and shameless political maneuvering of the US politicians is a great irony to the spirit of democracy and the rule of law that they boast of, and the violation of their self-proclaimed independence of the Judiciary has once again made people see clearly their double standards and sinister intentions.
READ MORE: Hong Kong lawmakers protest over US sanction threat
As of Tuesday 12 pm, 407,268 Hong Kong residents have signed an online petition opposing the threats made by United States politicians. The online petition, which was launched on Sunday, was organized by a local group with the aim of highlighting that judges embody the principles of fairness and justice.
