Conflicts & War

Hong Kong leader accuses US of double standards regarding protests

Beijing, June 2 (efe-epa).- The head of the Hong Kong Executive, Carrie Lam, accused the United States government Tuesday of using double standards when addressing the pro-democratic protests that occurred in the Asian city and the current protests against racism on American soil.

“We now see how local authorities are handling the revolts in the US, compared to the position they took last year when almost the same riots occurred in Hong Kong,” Lam said today during her weekly press conference.

The controversial Hong Kong leader spread this accusation to other foreign governments, although she did not give names: “They are very concerned about their own national security, but about our national security … they see it through tinted glasses.”

On Monday, the US was still mired in protests and riots, despite the curfews declared in the main cities, a week since the death of George Floyd, a black man who died as a result of the brutal treatment given by a white police officer in the American city of Minneapolis.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to suppress looting stemming from some protests, and last week ordered to start a process to finalize Hong Kong’s preferred trade status.

In this regard, Lam was of the opinion that it would not benefit either party and proove more harmful to both.

This latest decision by Trump is a response to the approval by the Chinese Legislative on Thursday of a controversial national security law for Hong Kong that aims, very broadly, to eradicate any loophole of “foreign interference” in the former British colony and that was endorsed last Thursday by China.

The law could allow Chinese security forces to operate freely in Hong Kong and carry out enforcement techniques such as those commonly practiced in mainland China.

According to local lawyers and activists, the legislation could curtail the freedoms enjoyed by the semi-autonomous city. EFE-EPA

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