China protests US over Senate approval of Hong Kong bill

The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the adoption by the Senate of the US Congress of the bill on the situation in Hong Kong as interference in the internal affairs of China and made a strong protest to Washington.

“The US Senate considered the Hong Kong Bill of Human Rights and Democracy on November 19. China strongly condemns and strongly protests the bill, which ignores facts, introduces confusion, violates norms and double standards, which is an undisguised interference in Hong Kong’s affairs. , China’s internal affairs, a gross violation of international law and basic norms of international relations, “said Geng Shuang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The diplomat noted that the riots in Hong Kong “seriously undermine the security of the population and its material values, hamper the development of Hong Kong, and challenge the formula” one country two systems. “

He emphasized that at present, Hong Kong is faced with the task of not “resolving the issue of the so-called human rights and democracy”, but “ending the riots as soon as possible, upholding laws, restoring order”.

According to Geng Shuang, the central government of China “will continue to strongly support the legitimate actions of the government of the Hong Kong Social Administrative Region, Hong Kong police measures to comply with the laws, the Hong Kong judicial system to punish criminals in accordance with the law.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded that Washington “immediately stop interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong and intervene in the internal affairs of China, so as not to light a fire and not reap bitter results.”

“If the US side continues such actions, then China will take decisive measures to resolutely counter this, firmly uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests,” the statement emphasizes.

The Hong Kong administration expressed deep regret in the statement circulated in connection with the bill.

It states that the draft law undermines relations between Hong Kong and the United States, and states that any form of interference by the foreign parliament in Hong Kong’s internal affairs is unacceptable.

The US Congress Senate unanimously approved the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Bill. The document was sent to the House of Representatives, which had previously passed a similar bill. If both houses of Congress agree, it must be signed by US President Donald Trump.

Following the first, the Senate passed a second bill introducing a ban on the supply of equipment for the Hong Kong police: tear and pepper gas, rubber bullets and stun guns.