China eroding Hong Kong’s judicial independence: US secretary of state | World News

U.S. Secretary of State anthony wink accuse China of undermining independence HongkongCourt, as the State Council released a new report condemning Beijing’s crackdown on dissent in the Asian financial hub.

The United States has previously focused on criticism China Suppresses free speech, targets journalists and civil society groups, and deprives Hong Kong residents of their right to freely choose their leaders. Blinken’s comments on Friday underscored growing criticism that the legal system that has helped the city become a hub for multinational corporations has been undermined by efforts to suppress the pro-democracy movement that sparked mass and sometimes violence in 2019 protests.

“The People’s Republic of China continues to erode Hong Kong’s judicial independence and the rule of law,” Blinken said in a statement. “Over the past year, authorities in mainland China and Hong Kong have further criminalized dissent, undermining the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and undermining the city’s promised autonomy.”

Blinken’s comments were accompanied by an annual State Department report detailing how Hong Kong authorities continue to use the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 to erode the rule of law. Officials continued to “arrest and prosecute those critical of peaceful political speech by local and central governments, including those who publish and retweet social media posts,” the report said.

Hong Kong’s response

In a lengthy response, a Hong Kong government spokesman said Hong Kong “strongly opposes and resolutely opposes the baseless and distorted remarks and smearing” in the report. Hong Kong urged the United States to stop “interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,” and said Hong Kong judges remained “independent and impartial” and “free from any interference” even in cases involving national security.

Legal scholars have criticized the national security law, which includes a provision that allows Hong Kong’s leaders to pick and remove judges who hear national security cases and “if they make any remarks or actions that endanger national security.” “

Blinken’s critical comments and detailed report come as China’s elected leader of Hong Kong, John Lee, seeks to revive the city’s reputation as an Asian financial center after lifting Covid-related travel restrictions that have left the city in the Remaining isolated at the height of the pandemic. Part of Hong Kong’s long-term appeal to international business is the historical reputation of the city’s courts, which are distinct from those effectively controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

The Hong Kong government “faces real challenges as it tries to move away from the events of 2019 and 2020 and refocus international attention on Hong Kong’s long-term role as a business hub,” said Thomas Kellogg, executive director of the Georgetown University Center. Asian law.

“The Hong Kong government has had a hard time convincing the international community that the changes brought about by the national security law — and the damage to judicial independence — will not have an impact on the business environment,” he said, referring to the national security law. “After all, several key NSL provisions require private companies to provide evidence in NSL cases, which is a reputational nightmare for any Western business that finds itself on the receiving end of such an investigation by the Hong Kong police.”

The State Department’s criticism will only exacerbate ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, from U.S. efforts to limit the flow of advanced semiconductors to China, to this week’s “transit” by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who is expected to meet with the U.S. in California. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sparked threats from Chinese officials.