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US Voices Concerns Over Erosion of Hong Kong's Autonomy From China

Nike Ching

   STATE DEPARTMENT - U.S. officials and lawmakers are voicing grave
   concerns over the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy from China, a day
   after one of the city's largest protests since its handover from
   British to Chinese control in 1997.

   Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Hong Kong on Sunday to
   protest a proposed extradition law that would permit Chinese
   authorities to request the extradition of individuals to mainland
   China.

   "The United States shares the concern of many in Hong Kong that the
   lack of procedural protections in the proposed amendments could
   undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and negatively impact the territory's
   long-standing protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms and
   democratic values as enshrined in the Basic Law, and the Sino-British
   Joint Declaration," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said
   during a briefing Monday.

   Washington believes the peaceful demonstration in Hong Kong shows the
   public's opposition to the proposed amendments.

   "We are also concerned that the amendments could damage Hong Kong's
   business environment and subject our citizens residing in or visiting
   Hong Kong to China's capricious judicial system," Ortagus added.

   The Hong Kong diaspora and people from more than two dozen cities
   around the globe also rallied to show solidarity and support the
   protesters' demands.

   Observers fear that the extradition bill, if enacted, would be used by
   Beijing to grab individuals it couldn't otherwise apprehend, including
   human rights advocates and other critics of the Chinese Communist Party
   based in Hong Kong.

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