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Pompeo Calls China's Hong Kong Security Law an 'Affront to All Nations'

Nike Ching

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that
   China's newly enacted Hong Kong national security law was "an affront
   to all nations" and that Washington was taking steps to end special
   permissions for the Chinese region.

   "The United States is deeply concerned about the law's sweeping
   provisions and the safety of everyone living in the territory,
   including Americans," Pompeo said.

   The Chinese legislature, the National People's Congress, adopted the
   national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday, a day before the 23rd
   anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule.

   The law recommends harsh penalties for vaguely defined crimes such as
   "collusion with foreign countries." Crimes such as damaging public
   transportation could be considered terrorist activity punishable by
   life in prison. Legal analysts say it effectively ends political
   freedoms that long allowed Hong Kong residents to publicly express
   their political views and helped transform the territory into an
   international business hub.

   "Article 38 of the new law also purports to apply to offenses committed
   outside of Hong Kong by nonresidents of Hong Kong, and this likely
   includes Americans. This is outrageous and an affront to all nations,"
   Pompeo said.

   US-China tensions growing

   As Beijing has tightened control over Hong Kong, U.S. leaders say
   China's actions threaten American economic interests, security and
   values.

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