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Over the September 7th-8th weekend two things became apparent during the Hong Kong protests.
The first one is, judging by the released videos of various protesters vandalizing windows and trying to block roads and public transport stations, the Hong Kong police have adjusted and cannot be specifically called brutal in their preemptive positions.
There are much smaller numbers of people trying to block and vandalize the stations, as well, which leads to the notion that the protests are, at least partially, losing steam.
The other takeaway is that the most avid protesters appear to be those calling for US President Donald Trump to “liberate” Hong Kong, waving around US flags, which is perfectly in line with every accusation that Chinese state media and Foreign Ministry have pointed towards the US.
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The US Congress is mulling whether to approve a bill to support Hong Kong’s protesters.
The bill in question is a bi-partisan bill proposed by US Senators Marco Rubio (Republican) and Ben Cardin (Democrat). The Hong Kong bill aims to reaffirm the US commitment to human rights, democracy, and rule of law. It was introduced on June 13th.
If it is passed, it would require the US to:
- Perform an annual assessment of whether Hong Kong is autonomous enough to justify its continued enjoyment of special status granted under the 1992 Hong Kong Policy Act, which gives the city preferential trade and economic benefits;
- Freeze the assets of—and bar US entry to—officials who are found to be complicit in suppressing basic freedoms in Hong Kong, including the rendition of individuals to mainland China;
- Perform an annual assessment of whether Hong Kong is adequately enforcing US export regulations, as well as US and UN sanctions;
- Waive visa denials for individuals who have been arrested as a result of their participation in the nonviolent protest activities related democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
US President Donald Trump initially called the protests “riots” and said that it was an internal issue for Beijing, but has since tied any conclusion to the US-China Trade War to Beijing giving in to protester demands.
HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam advise against doing so, and that it would mean Washington is interfering in the city’s internal affairs, as well as China’s internal affairs.
She expressed “deep regret” over the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act,” which US Congress intended to enact, saying that, “Any form of interference from foreign congresses is extremely inappropriate.”
Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also urged the US to “immediately stop pushing Hong Kong-related legislation, cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs at once.”
“The future of Hong Kong must and can only be determined by all Chinese people, including our Hong Kong compatriots… Any attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs, is doomed to fail,” said Geng.
Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the HKSAR has been exercising “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law, and the “one country, two systems” principle has been fully and successfully implemented, a spokesman of the HKSAR government said.
“Human rights and freedom in Hong Kong are fully protected by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislation. The HKSAR government attaches great importance to them and is determined to safeguard them,” the spokesman stressed.
In an overview of Chinese state media reports, the SCMP mentioned the Global Times and China Daily, which both published articles warning the protesters not to test the patience of the central government.
The Global Times reported that “extreme demonstrators” were undergoing a “fit of hysteria, announcing that should their demands not be met, they would rather destroy everything.”
“If the U.S. passes the bill to interfere in Hong Kong’s internal affairs, it would not be for the sake of the city, but rather to turn the financial hub into a card Washington can use to increase pressure on Beijing. The U.S. will only decide its policy toward Hong Kong based on American interests,” the article said.
“If the situation in Hong Kong gets out of control, leading to subversive disorder and humanitarian disaster among society, Beijing will definitely take action in accordance with the Basic Law,” it said.
China Daily directly warned protesters of testing Beijing’s patience.
“They have already challenged the bottom line of ‘one country, two systems’ by seeking U.S. help to achieve their nefarious goal of ‘Hong Kong independence’,” it said.
“The demonstrations in Hong Kong are not about rights or democracy. They are a result of foreign interference. Lest the central government’s restraint be misconstrued as weakness, let it be clear secessionism in any form will be crushed.”
A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said foreign legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of Hong Kong.
“It is very much in Hong Kong’s own interest to maintain our autonomy to safeguard our interests and advantages under the one country, two systems principle,” the spokesman said.
Finally, Xinhua also accused the radical protesters for being “selfish” and presenting their interests as those of the whole.
“Astonishingly, there are still people in Hong Kong society who are exceptionally tolerant towards violence and refuse to cut ties with the violent protesters,” it said.
“In reality, this kind of mentality fueled the aggressiveness of those mobs, and gave them a false feeling that the whole society would support or accept their so-called ‘resistance’ and continue to live in a self-beautifying illusion. For the silent majority who love Hong Kong, it’s time to stand up and loudly say no to this violence.”
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hahahaha these ”Chinese” should be deported to the USA or to London. They have no place in China and sooner the authorities realize it the better.
Mainland China is rather quiet which makes one suspect that the Chinese government has an agenda that isn’t quite obvious; due to Hong Kong instability the Chinese government may just move the financial centre to the mainland where they have better control over the financial markets and investments.
That would fail. You only become a global financial center if the international investor community trusts you.
Hong Kong is in China and relocating the financial hub to the mainland where there is security is more trustworthy.
Hongkong is not nearly as important for the mainland as it was even years ago.
Therefore mainland is in a much stronger position now, as Hongkong is not crucial anymore. Far from it. China prepared decades ago. :)
all spontaneous and nothing to do with this https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/08/28/google-facebook-cable-cut-china-tradewar-trump/
These protesters are manipulated by traitors ready to sell their country to the West. I hope that these manipulators will meet the treatment they deserve.
Beijing sees the rioters as puppets of Washington, the whole enterprise an attempt to destabilize mainland China with the aim of bringing down the government. Combined with disturbances in Xinjiang province, Taiwan seeking full independence, increased chances of military flare up in the South China Sea, it all adds up to a dangerous cocktail that represents an existential threat. History shows that when interests are undermined to such an extent the only outcome can be war. https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
I would like to see what would happen if a group started causing disruptions while waving the Chinese flag and calling for Xi JinPing to liberate Hawaii.
The Chinese government should take a page from Fidel Castro’s book and let everyone who wants to leave get on a boat and go to the USA …. maybe even clean out the prisons while they’re at it.
USA will never even dare to put foot on Hong Kong, China will kill them before they can say mama. USA will never risk the global peace for some idiots I totally agree that all criminals to be sent in mainland China, because “bad” criminals they don’t deserve to live between normal people. You kill, you should be killed you rape they should cut your dick off,and soo on
Let Budish sort out Budishm internal nonsense. China is parasitic nation milking dry developing nations with loans full of preconditions.
Look what China is doing to African countries taking over port cities and mining and airports if their failed to pay back China loans.
Namibia and Zimbabwe are controlled and rule buy Chinese money laundering mafias.Ruling party leaders enjoy taking bribes.Instead of financing drought with that bribes their ask money from other countries and eat up with Chinese mafias.
The show goes on.
retard
Go and eat Chinese barbecue cats and frogs.
Your country is infested with foreigners. Your wifes are abandoning you gays for foreigners your daughters are dropping out of school for cash and luxury while sucking dry like a oranges.
You Perlolinis Trompolis have sold your national soccer team to Africans.
Just say thanks to USA for protecting your countries interests terrorists headchoppers kid.Do you know where is your father.
Yes America has some issues to work on. BBQ frog ain’t half bad. Cats on the otherhand. My dad married a chinese women and took in her son. Very bright and hard-working young man. Fifteen years and they haven’t eaten a single cat. Where you from Xoli Xoli? Not all your posts are dumb, but you seem to have axe to grind with China. Those Hong Kong protesters are spoiled brats…sons and daughters of Anglo-Zionist colonists.
Jason sorry if I offended you.But my boss please look with indebtedness how the Chinese are looting Africa with loans attached with precondition. Mr.Jason thank you.you really got me out.I am really against Chinese tenancy of taking over African resources,cities and building their economy on the expense of looted African countries.
Sorry for overreacting in my own foolishness. You are right thank for correcting me i really appreciate.
My apologies, too. I treated you with unnecessary rudeness.
Thanks.