The passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 and other related bills undermines Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, people from all walks of life said on Wednesday.
Leung Mei-fun, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said the U.S. acts were designed to interfere in China's internal affairs, rather than promoting Hong Kong's well-being. "The rights and freedom of Hong Kong people are protected by the Basic Law and other related regulations."
The lawmaker said the United States should return to the framework of international laws and norms and respect the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong affairs.
"Since its return to China, Hong Kong has consolidated its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center," Lo Kam Yam, president of the Hong Kong Commerce and Industry Associations said. "Hong Kong people enjoy more democratic rights and freedom than at any time in history."
Hong Kong is one of the major trading partners of the United States and it is in the interests of all parties including the United States to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, Lo said.
In the name of "democracy" and "freedom," the United States is actually meddling with the internal affairs of HKSAR and hinder the development of China, Ng Chau-pei, president of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said.
Chan Man-ki, the founder of CMK Lawyers, hit out at the blatant disregard of facts by some U.S. politicians who, instead of denouncing the violence, encouraged rioters to challenge the authority and law enforcement of the HKSAR government.
The U.S. politicians preaching hypocritical slogans are depriving Hong Kong residents of the basic right of living in a safe environment, Chan said, urging Hong Kong people to recognize the truth and not to be used as their chessman.
Ma Yan-kwok, the chairman of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation said, the Hong Kong-related bills have exceeded the powers of the U.S. House of Representatives and completely violated relevant UN resolutions, which in essence is a political means to exert pressure on the HKSAR government and interfere in the internal affairs of China.
A small group of opposition figures, who urged the United States to pass the Hong Kong-related bills, are conspiring with the U.S. anti-China forces to undermine Hong Kong's interests and hinder China's development, said Chu Kar-kin, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, adding that they will be spurned by Hong Kong people.
Some U.S. politicians in fact supported rioters and incited them to continue violent acts, which endangered the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, Leung Oi-sie, former secretary for justice of the HKSAR government said.
Leung stressed that the action from those politicians that harms the development of Hong Kong will also threaten the economic and national interests of the United States itself in a world where economies are highly interrelated.
Items of the Hong Kong-related acts will put pressure on businesses operating in Hong Kong, stoked concerns about Hong Kong's prospects, and hurt the economy and people's well-being, Kan Chung-nin, chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Professionals.
Kan called on the public to resist the misdeeds of some U.S. politicians and firmly support the HKSAR government in safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
Quite a number of American companies operate in Hong Kong, and there are also many Americans live and work here, said Hong Kong-based economist Liang Haiming, noting that the action of the United States will lead to serious losses to its own interests.
The advantages in Hong Kong that foreign firms value the most are free flow of capital, independent judiciary, and close link with the mainland, Liang said. "As long as the Chinese central authority continues to support HKSAR government, Hong Kong can safeguard its own interests and eliminate the adverse effects of the acts."
