The report cited the CCP’s violations of Hong Kong’s democracy and freedoms over the past year, including: The NPCSC’s push for sweeping reforms to Hong Kong’s electoral system that “prevents political and political activities not approved by Beijing. The participation of groups in Hong Kong’s elections has greatly weakened the right of Hong Kong voters to elect representatives from the region”; the CCP and the Hong Kong government have criminalized “peaceful opposition to the CCP authorities and the Hong Kong government’s speech, effectively depriving Hong Kong pan-democrats of the city’s the right to play a meaningful role in urban governance”; the CCP and the Hong Kong government have used the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law with “extremely vague and vague standards” to continue to undermine the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, including that the people of Hong Kong are subject to the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration “protected rights and freedoms.
The report therefore assesses that between March 2021 and March 2022, the CCP took new steps to erode the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, in direct violation of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The obligation to maintain Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, therefore, was re-certified by US Secretary of State Blinken, unable to restore the special status Hong Kong had before July 1, 1997.
US Secretary of State Blinken also issued a statement on the same day, condemning the CCP’s continued pressure over the past year to dismantle Hong Kong’s democratic system, exert unprecedented pressure on Hong Kong’s judiciary, and stifle Hong Kong’s academics, culture and news free. “This year’s report documents the further erosion of Hong Kong’s democratic institutions and human rights and freedoms by the Hong Kong government and CCP leaders, which has caused extreme harm to Hong Kong’s media operations and freedom of expression, and has affected every aspect of Hong Kong city life,” the statement read. There are far-reaching impacts on Hong Kong’s international business and financial communities.”
In his statement, he cited as an example that the Hong Kong government’s mass arrests of Hong Kong residents and the forcible closure of institutions such as Apple Daily and Hong Kong’s “64” Museum have highlighted the scope of these extremely harmful actions; in response to Hong Kong’s Growing risk and uncertainty have forced some international companies in Hong Kong to relocate entirely, while others have quickly moved critical staff and operations elsewhere. He therefore concluded: “The CCP will ultimately force many of Hong Kong’s best minds and elites to flee, tarnish Hong Kong’s reputation and undermine Hong Kong’s competitiveness, with the result that Hong Kong’s status as a free global financial center will continue to be damaged.”
Blinken therefore said: With the approaching of the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong, the freedom of Hong Kong is shrinking due to the strengthening of its rule by the CCP; and due to the continuous suppression of the CCP, the difference between Hong Kong and other cities in mainland China is increasing. Small; this makes it impossible for the United States to restore the special rights that Hong Kong enjoyed on July 1, 1997, different from other cities in the mainland.
“We stand with the people of Hong Kong as a fully functioning citizenry, a society under the rule of law and a society with full individual freedoms are the cornerstones of a vibrant society,” he stressed in the statement.
Hanscom Smith, the U.S. consul general in Hong Kong and Macau, also issued a statement condemning the CCP’s renegade behavior, which seriously undermined Hong Kong’s freedom, competitiveness and vitality. He wrote: “In the past, Hong Kong flourished as an international hub city and people had confidence in Hong Kong’s openness, rule of law and high degree of autonomy. But the CCP’s decision to backtrack on its commitments to Hong Kong and the world undermined Hong Kong’s freedoms. , competitiveness and dynamism.”
He urged the CCP to honour its commitments in the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration to safeguard Hong Kong’s high degree of freedom. “For Hong Kong to prosper again, Beijing must deliver on its promise to uphold Hong Kong’s autonomy,” he wrote. “The United States looks forward to Hong Kong’s success and stands with the people of Hong Kong!”