Riot police stop the way to the US consulate in Hong Kong (AP)The top American diplomat in Hong Kong has described the use of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s new national security law to curb freedoms as a “tragedy”. Hanscom Smith, the US consul general to Hong Kong and Macau, told reporters: “Using the national security law to erode fundamental freedoms and to create an atmosphere of coercion and self-censorship is a tragedy for Hong Kong. “Hong Kong has been successful precisely because of its openness and we’ll do everything we can to maintain that.”The law, imposed last week following anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year, makes secessionist, subversive, or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s internal affairs. Since the law came into effect, the government has also specified that the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time” has separatist connotations and is thus criminalised. A 23-year-old man, Tong Ying-kit, has become the first person in Hong Kong to be charged under the new law, for allegedly driving a motorcycle into a group of policemen while bearing a flag with the “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time” slogan.

Source: Irish Independent July 06, 2020 06:45 UTC