1501
@joshuawongcf
Our hope is that a drastic change of American policy will encourage them to reverse course on Hong Kong. For the past year, we've been fighting, first, against extradition arrangements with China and, now, a sweeping national-security law. The world must not turn a blind eye.
1502
@joshuawongcf
If the U.S. no longer treats Hong Kong as a separate customs territory, will our economy suffer? Of course! It's painful to acknowledge that the stock market may plunge, unemployment numbers may rise and foreign businesses may flee. Yet the hit is necessary.
1503
@joshuawongcf
For decades, Hong Kong has facilitated the influx of global capital and otherwise unavailable goods (e.g. high-tech products) into China. Leaders in Beijing continue to reap the benefits of this arrangement while our freedoms deteriorate. They can't have it both ways.
1504
@joshuawongcf
The @CECCgov chairman is correct here. While @SecPompeo's decision today to declare #HongKong insufficiently autonomous from #China has taken many aback, it does reflect the actual situation, and hence its bipartisan support in DC and embrace by most pro-democracy Hong Kongers. twitter.com/RepMcGovern/st…
1505
@joshuawongcf
6/ I also urge US, European and Asia’s leaders to reconsider whether Hongkong’s special trade status can still be held since, once the law is implemented, Hong Kong will be assimilated into China’s authoritarian regime, on both rule of law and human rights protections.
1506
@joshuawongcf
4/ The proposed law is the stepping stone for its future intervention. In order to protect the business interest in the city, especially those choosing Hong Kong as the regional headquarters, it is crucial for companies to voice out and oppose the passing of the law.
1507
@joshuawongcf
5/ To maintain the autonomy status of HK is the only way to maintain business interest. Therefore, I call upon world leaders jointly express opposition against this law. Since the security law is hugely controversial, it can't be full legislative scrutiny & public consultation.
1508
@joshuawongcf
2/ In the past, Hong Kong has firewalls to fend off the political influence from China, such as guarantees of human rights protections, an independent judiciary and loose business regulations. These are the reasons why businesses choose Hong Kong as the destination of investment.
1509
@joshuawongcf
3/ However, the law will profoundly erode the city’s firewalls, especially when a Beijing-led secret police branch is to be set up, & when Beijing’s board definition of national security is imposed. China treated stock markets & flow of capital as part of its national security.
1510
@joshuawongcf
After @SecPompeo officially declares HK ‘no longer autonomous’, here is my msg to world leaders & foreign companies:
1/ National security law carries massive damage to expats & investors in HK. It will completely affect business interests in HK & leads to democratic backlashes.
1511
@joshuawongcf
10/ Democratic values and the virtue to respect treaties are the foundation of democracies. If China’s flagrant breach of Joint Declaration, a legally binding international treaty at the @UN, is tolerated, it will set a bad precedent to all other treaties and agreements alike.
1512
@joshuawongcf
6/ In worse scenario, HK will fall into Beijing’s direct rule, and de facto becomes another city of China. Hence, all special treatments granted to HK need to be subject to reconsideration. In fact, countries start to realize the changing role of HK in China’s global strategy.
1513
@joshuawongcf
7/ For example, Israel’s security officials just rejected a bid from CK Hutchison Holdings for the potential security risks of Chinese involvement in plant construction in the disguise of "Hong Kong companies”. ft.com/content/31a900…
1514
@joshuawongcf
8/ To safeguard the city’s freedoms and urge China to stop further misconduct, world leaders, not only the US, should consider sanctions on China as the only effective strategic option to send a warning signal to Beijing.
1515
@joshuawongcf
9/ The sanctions should not only be restricted to personal sanctions like travel bans and asset freezes (since China won’t really realize the severity), but also partial sanctions on pro-#CCP companies and dual-use technology.
1516
@joshuawongcf
5/ For a long time, HK has been treated by Beijing as a white glove port for importing sensitive strategic commodities. Once the law is implemented, a #secretpolice agency and a #CCP-led China’s court will be imposed upon this global business centre.
1517
@joshuawongcf
4/ This law is even eviler than the extradition bill in 2019. China’s poor human rights records have already proved that it will undeniably use the law to crush HK’s civil society and dissents.
1518
@joshuawongcf
1519
@joshuawongcf
2/ When #Beijing insists on ignoring international responses and breaching international norms and rules, it is time for China to face the grave consequences and international backlashes for its irresponsible act of scraping an UN-filed Joint Declaration.
1520
@joshuawongcf
3/ In fact, the world has already expressed concern over the evil & ill-defined #nationasecuritylaw that will kill democratisation in #HK and harm global business interest in HK. But China keeps dismissing all doubts from world leaders, business sectors and even bar associations.
1521
@joshuawongcf
6/ On Fri’s meeting, I call upon the #EU foreign ministers to have a firmer stance on the issue & to urge China to halt #nationalsecuritylegislation. I urge the #EU to impose all necessary sanctions if China insists on breaking an UN-filed treaty & finally passes this evil bill.
1522
@joshuawongcf
5/ Therefore, EU should have more robust strategy to encounter China’s authoritarian threat to freedoms and autonomy worldwide, including HK. Democratic values & civil liberties lay foundations to all western democracies, & these are also the values that #HKProtesters strive for.
1523
@joshuawongcf
4/ The treaty violation will carry implications to other agreements with China since EU is the prime investment destination for Belt & Road Initiative + biggest trading partner of China. It will set a bad precedent, especially when China faces the worst economic slowdown.
1524
@joshuawongcf
1525
@joshuawongcf
3/ The new law will definitely create massive political & legal uncertainties in this global city that affect civil society & foreign business. The loosely defined “foreign forces” will also put all ex-pats & travellers at risk amid the rise of China’s #wolfwarrior diplomacy.
@joshuawongcf
* CURRENTLY IN JAIL, ACCOUNT MANAGED BY FRIENDS *
—
Hong Kong activist〡joshua@joshuawongcf.com〡#UnfreeSpeech: hyperurl.co/unfreespeech〡#MilkTeaAlliance