Pompeo calls Hong Kong law an 'affront to all nations'

[webfact]

Pompeo calls Hong Kong law an 'affront to all nations'

By David Brunnstrom and Humeyra Pamuk

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives a news conference about dealings with China and Iran, and on the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Washington, U.S., June 24, 2020. Mangel Ngan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the new security law China has imposed on Hong Kong was an affront to all nations and Washington would continue to implement President Donald Trump's directive to end the territory's special status.

 

Pompeo told a news briefing the United States was deeply concerned about the safety of everyone in Hong Kong and said Article 38 of the law passed on Tuesday purported to apply to offenses committed outside Hong Kong and likely included Americans.

 

"This is outrageous and an affront to all nations," he said.

 

Pompeo recalled that on Friday, Washington implemented visa restrictions on those responsible for the Hong Kong crackdown and on Monday announced it would end exports of defense equipment and dual-use technology through the territory.

 

"Free Hong Kong was one of the world's most stable, prosperous and dynamic cities. Now, now it will be just another Communist-run city where people will be subject to the party elites' whims," Pompeo said.

 

"We will continue to implement President Trump's directive to end Hong Kong's special status."

 

Asked how far Washington would go in stripping Hong Kong of its U.S. privileges, Pompeo said: "I'll just repeat what the president said: He wants to ensure that, with a handful of exceptions, Hong Kong is treated just like mainland China."

 

But some analysts doubt the willingness of the Trump administration to take forceful action that would have an impact on Beijing, given extensive U.S. business interests in Hong Kong and Trump's desire to maintain a trade deal reached with China this year.

 

"While there are a range of options for further U.S. sanctions, including tariffs, visas, and air travel, none are cost-free to U.S. interests," said Wendy Cutler, a former senior U.S. trade official.

 

Kurt Tong, the former U.S. consul general in Hong Kong, said it was difficult to craft responses that did not hurt Hong Kong or the United States more than they hurt China.

 

"I do expect President Trump to raise tariffs on Hong Kong exports, since he has already said as much. Still, such actions are unlikely to deter Beijing," he said.

 

"More dramatic options, such as somehow attacking Hong Kong’s policy of pegging its currency to the U.S. dollar, do not seem practical," he added.

 

Pompeo also highlighted a U.S. business advisory issued on Wednesday warning about "reputational, economic, and legal risks" of doing business with entities linked to abuses in China's Xinjiang region.

 

Pompeo reiterated concerns about what he called "deeply disturbing reports" that China was imposing a policy of forced sterilization on Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

 

"We call on all nations, women's advocates, religious groups and human rights organizations to stand up for the Chinese people's basic human dignity," he said.

 

U.S. officials have told Reuters previously that global human rights sanctions have long been in the works against senior Chinese officials, including a politburo member who is also regional Communist Party chief. But the measures have yet to imposed.

 

Trump told the Axios news website earlier this month he held off approving such sanctions because of concern it would interfere with trade negotiations with Beijing.

 

The United Nations estimates more than a million Muslims have been detained in camps in Xinjiang. The State Department has accused China of subjecting them to torture and abuse.

 

China has denied mistreatment and says the camps provide vocational training and help fight extremism.

 

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Arshad Mohammed, Susan Heavey, Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Dan Grebler and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-03

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Dumbastheycome]

Bizzare  hypocrisy!

[Justgrazing]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

This is outrageous and an affront to all nations," he said.

Indeed it is .. there needs to be a co-ordinated response to this from a united front of nations .. stand alone actions will not be enough .. 

China's need to be checked but that will come with some pain to those who stand up to them .. 

The condemnation from Thailand was deafening as well we note ..  

 

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

Indeed it is .. there needs to be a co-ordinated response to this from a united front of nations .. stand alone actions will not be enough .. 

China's need to be checked but that will come with some pain to those who stand up to them .. 

The condemnation from Thailand was deafening as well we note .. 

More worryingly, China's actions will probably be giving our illustrious leader ideas.

[xylophone]

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the new security law China has imposed on Hong Kong was an affront to all nations

Whereas trump is an affront to humanity.........checkmate!

[Mama Noodle]

Stories of the UK granting citizenship to loads of HK citizens who dont want to live under Chinas boot. 

 

USA should grant the same. People fighting for freedom of speech and freedom to protest would make fantastic Americans. 

 

China sucks, Hong Kongers should be welcomed with open arms in all western nations. 

[tifino]

7 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Stories of the UK granting citizenship to loads of HK citizens who dont want to live under Chinas boot. 

 

USA should grant the same. People fighting for freedom of speech and freedom to protest would make fantastic Americans. 

 

China sucks, Hong Kongers should be welcomed with open arms in all western nations. 

USA already did same for Vietnamese... and whoever was left, became Gulag fodder for retraining camps 

[billd766]

29 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Bizzare  hypocrisy!

Not really. Nowadays the USA seems ready to poke its collective nose into every other countries business without asking or thinking through any responses, before offering a response.

 

IMHO under Trump and Pompeo the USA is losing friends and allies world wide and it seems to be driving itself into isolation from the rest of the world.

 

After Trump departs the scene, it will take the new (and hopefully responsible) years and decades if ever, from the damage Trump has brought upon the USA.

[Mama Noodle]

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

Not really. Nowadays the USA seems ready to poke its collective nose into every other countries business without asking or thinking through any responses, before offering a response.

 

IMHO under Trump and Pompeo the USA is losing friends and allies world wide and it seems to be driving itself into isolation from the rest of the world.

 

After Trump departs the scene, it will take the new (and hopefully responsible) years and decades if ever, from the damage Trump has brought upon the USA.

 

All hail China, right?

[animalmagic]

Be careful what you say, you may be breaking the law no matter where you are or where you're from.  Below is an extract from the English version.

 

Part 6 Scope of Application

Article 36 This Law shall apply to offences under this Law which are committed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by any person. An offence shall be deemed to have been committed in the Region if an act constituting the offence or the consequence of the offence occurs in the Region.

This Law shall also apply to offences under this Law committed on board a vessel or aircraft registered in the Region.

Article 37 This Law shall apply to a person who is a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or an incorporated or unincorporated body such as a company or an organisation which is set up in the Region if the person or the body commits an offence under this Law outside the Region.

Article 38 This Law shall apply to offences under this Law committed against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region.

Article 39 This Law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment.

[scorecard]

I would call trumps attitudes and comments an a front to mankind.

[scorecard]

40 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

All hail China, right?

The post didn't say that, not at all.

[JCauto]

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

All hail China, right?

I think it may have been you whom I was responding too way back when at the start of the protests once your revered "Leader" had started with his far-sighted strategy of demonizing the protesters and encouraging the Police to take the truncheons out. At that time I noted that "Hong Kong is lost", since the USA had just taken all of the leverage they'd built carefully over decades and tossed it in the trash for transitory political expediency, thereby sacrificing HK for nothing. Congratulations! So much winning...

[car720]

29 minutes ago, JCauto said:

I think it may have been you whom I was responding too way back when at the start of the protests once your revered "Leader" had started with his far-sighted strategy of demonizing the protesters and encouraging the Police to take the truncheons out. At that time I noted that "Hong Kong is lost", since the USA had just taken all of the leverage they'd built carefully over decades and tossed it in the trash for transitory political expediency, thereby sacrificing HK for nothing. Congratulations! So much winning...

Nothing new really.  The world did the same thing to Tibet.

[car720]

I often wonder why, if one good sniper could take out so many of the politburo that it has not been done yet?

[Isaan sailor]

Another perfect article to uncover the CCP cheerleaders.  They change the subject and deflect blame.

[Pedrogaz]

Pompeo and Trump are an affront to all nations.

[natway09]

It will be like water off a ducks back.

The organized paid underground protesters that took over from what started as a peaceful protest

against a law that China actually back pedalled on until the riff raff took the protests to a new level in spite of that. ( I was there & saw it)

I said a long time ago that Beijing wil only put up with so much nonsense for a while & I was proved right.

Like it or not HK is part of China & they did not want to take this course as HK is a good money maker for them in particular as many items made in China went to HK for branding giving them a trade advantage.

But all that aside they will not allow HK to become a battle ground & nearly all the locals agree with them as they just want to get on with business & trade

[Morch]

12 minutes ago, natway09 said:

It will be like water off a ducks back.

The organized paid underground protesters that took over from what started as a peaceful protest

against a law that China actually back pedalled on until the riff raff took the protests to a new level in spite of that. ( I was there & saw it)

I said a long time ago that Beijing wil only put up with so much nonsense for a while & I was proved right.

Like it or not HK is part of China & they did not want to take this course as HK is a good money maker for them in particular as many items made in China went to HK for branding giving them a trade advantage.

But all that aside they will not allow HK to become a battle ground & nearly all the locals agree with them as they just want to get on with business & trade

 

Quote

The organized paid underground protesters

Quote

nearly all the locals agree with them

 

Doubt you could solidly back up either of these.

[Eric Loh]

I see the current situation in Hong Kong quite similar to 1997. As 1997 approached, citizens were quite apprehensive and actually quite fearful of what's going to happen after the hand-over. Hong Kong citizens were descendants of Chinese immigrants from China in the 60s and saw the killings during the Cultural Revolution when the educated and rich were singled out and massacred. There was a feeling that something similar will happen when the UK handover Hong Kong. Many leave for Canada and Australia and SEA countries, mostly those who can afford to leave. The 1997 handover was peaceful and there were no deterioration of social activities nor economy and subsequently citizens returned. It will likely to be the same this time when the better sense prevailed and the demonstrations fizzled out. Trump is just playing his China card for his domestic supporters. US will not follow through with all those threats. 

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

 

A post containing a derogatory slang comment has been removed. 

[rvaviator]

3 hours ago, car720 said:

Nothing new really.  The world did the same thing to Tibet.

Where is the oil in Tibet ?

[GreasyFingers]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"While there are a range of options for further U.S. sanctions, including tariffs, visas, and air travel, none are cost-free to U.S. interests," said Wendy Cutler, a former senior U.S. trade official.

 

Kurt Tong, the former U.S. consul general in Hong Kong, said it was difficult to craft responses that did not hurt Hong Kong or the United States more than they hurt China.

 

"I do expect President Trump to raise tariffs on Hong Kong exports, since he has already said as much. Still, such actions are unlikely to deter Beijing," he said.

 

"More dramatic options, such as somehow attacking Hong Kong’s policy of pegging its currency to the U.S. dollar, do not seem practical," he added.

Says it all.

[tonbridgebrit]

Pompeo, shut it, shut your mouth.
Stop putting your hypocrisy on full display. You are part of the Trump administration, and Trump is actually an affront to America and also, to all nations. How on earth did the American people elect your administration is something that staggers me.

Actually, Pompeo, you are actually more of an insult than your boss, Trump. You and your club are an abomination. I seriously suggest that you and your boss, especially you, keep your mouths shut, say nothing, it's called "damage limitation". You're going to get booted out of office later this year.

[tonbridgebrit]

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Pompeo and Trump are an affront to all nations.

An abomination to America and planet earth. That's what they are.

[tonbridgebrit]

5 hours ago, billd766 said:

Not really. Nowadays the USA seems ready to poke its collective nose into every other countries business without asking or thinking through any responses, before offering a response.

 

IMHO under Trump and Pompeo the USA is losing friends and allies world wide and it seems to be driving itself into isolation from the rest of the world.

 

After Trump departs the scene, it will take the new (and hopefully responsible) years and decades if ever, from the damage Trump has brought upon the USA.

Yes, you're correct. Trump and Pompeo are causing friends and allies to drift away from America. Isolation.

But you know what's really sad and tragic ?  It's a bunch of Trump supporters who are actually cheering this nonsense on. Yes, these people actually reckon that Trump and Pompeo are taking America into the right direction.

[dimitriv]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

It will likely to be the same this time when the better sense prevailed and the demonstrations fizzled out.

 

Yes. Keep your mouth shut. Do what the CCP tells you. Do not think yourself. Forget about Chinese crimes, forget about Chinese genocide. Forget about Chinese concentration camps. Don't try to commemorate the massacre on Tiananmen square. Just listen and obey. 

 

If you follow the above rules you will have no problems in Hong Kong.

 

 

[GreasyFingers]

4 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

Forget about Chinese crimes, forget about Chinese genocide. Forget about Chinese concentration camps.

Forget about American crimes, forget about American genocide. Forget about Guantamano Bay

[Deli]

This situation in HK sould receive at least 1o times as much attention as the BLM thing.

But lefties cannot riot here, so not much interest to follow up Chinas threat to the world.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Pompeo, shut it, shut your mouth.
Stop putting your hypocrisy on full display. You are part of the Trump administration, and Trump is actually an affront to America and also, to all nations. How on earth did the American people elect your administration is something that staggers me.

Actually, Pompeo, you are actually more of an insult than your boss, Trump. You and your club are an abomination. I seriously suggest that you and your boss, especially you, keep your mouths shut, say nothing, it's called "damage limitation". You're going to get booted out of office later this year.

 

You're "outraged". Alright. Now, about that recent Chinese move regarding HK...?