HONG KONG - The top US diplomat in Hong Kong on Monday urged China to ease political pressure on the city, warning that the"crude and chilling" use of a sweeping national security law threatened its role as an international business hub.
"True patriotism is earned by winning the allegiance of free people, rather than futile efforts to legislate 'patriotism' and loyalty from above," he said. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019.
The Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on Mr Smith's remarks."You can't have a la carte rule of law which applies in some instances but not others," he told the business group."Attempting to maintain Hong Kong's unique economic and financial systems while degrading its political institutions is not a viable strategy.
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