The government of Hong Kong, a “special administrative region” of China that rapidly lost its remaining political freedoms and independence after passage of the National Security Law in 2020, is upset that the US Congress is considering trade legislation which acknowledges this reality.
In a press release published on the gov.hk site on July 14, 2023, “Trade office act condemned,” the Hong Kong government blasts a Senate subcommittee “for passing the so-called Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Certification Act, which called for the removal of the privileges, exemptions and immunities [from] the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Offices in the US and even their closure.”
The Hong Kong government contends that even emergence of the trade bill from a subcommittee “constitutes gross interference in the affairs of Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong officials pretend that they’re still functioning on the basis of the binned “one country, two systems” principle. But their manner of speaking confirms that the Hong Kong government is really just a lackey of the mainland Chinese government, not a crucial component of a distinctive “second system.” Whenever a foreign government or its representatives do something that the Chinese government dislikes, the Chinese government chastises the foreign government for “grossly interfering in” China’s affairs.
It is easy to interfere in the affairs of China. This very article may be grossly interfering in its affairs. You can grossly interfere in its affairs too. Give it a try.
