Hong Kong government criticises U.S. safe haven scheme for 'fugitives'
Reuters
Published Oct 22, 2021 11:45AM ET
By James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government on Friday criticised Washington for its "safe haven" scheme for Hong Kongers to stay and work in the United States amid Beijing's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in the Chinese territory.
In August, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a temporary safe haven scheme for Hong Kong residents, allowing what could be thousands of people to extend their stay in response to the crackdown.
Biden cited "compelling foreign policy reasons" for the plan given China's continued "assault on Hong Kong's autonomy".
Details of the scheme were released on Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security, helping formalize the eligibility of Hong Kongers travelling on various travel documents to work and live in the United States for up to 18 months.
A Hong Kong government spokesman called the move an act of "blatant interference" in Hong Kong affairs.
"Governments that not only harbour but invite or encourage fugitive offenders to live in their country wantonly disregard the rule of law and expose their hypocrisy for all to see," the statement added.
The former Britsh colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide-ranging freedoms.
Since the implementation of a national security law directly by China last year, however, the city has taken an authoritarian turn with widespread arrests as well curbs on free speech and the media.
Hong Kong and Chinese authorities maintain the city enjoys a high degree of autonomy, but certain rights are not absolute.
Brian Leung, the head of the Washington D.C.- based Hong Kong Democracy Council, welcomed the broad inclusiveness of the scheme, saying it would bring much needed stability and financial security for the city's politically persecuted.
Sunny Cheung, who testified at a U.S. congressional hearing this week on the clampdown that has seen many of his fellow activists jailed, and himself driven him into exile, urged continuing policy moves by the Biden administration.
Get The News You Want
"Although this is a huge step forward, it must not be the last," Cheung said.
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.