The top US diplomat in Hong Kong criticizes China and the city for curtailing freedoms

The apical U.S. diplomat successful Hong Kong has criticized policies by China and Hong Kong for eroding freedoms

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's apical American diplomat said connected Thursday that the policies of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments person curtailed freedoms, pointing to the cases of jailed salient activistic Jimmy Lai and what helium called “transnational regression."

At a reception for the U.S. Independence Day, U.S. Consul General Gregory May, who volition articulation the U.S. Embassy successful Beijing adjacent period aft a three-year word successful Hong Kong, told reporters helium is simply a “big fan“ of Hong Kong, and that its radical and tone made the metropolis a bully place.

“Hong Kong is simply a large city. What is not large is the policies of the mainland Chinese government, the Hong Kong government, that person eroded freedom,” helium said.

Following the 2019 anti-government question that filled Hong Kong’s streets with protesters, Beijing imposed a nationalist information law that it deemed indispensable for the city's stability. Under the law, Lai and galore different starring activists were prosecuted.

May said U.S. President Donald Trump was precise acrophobic astir the destiny of Lai, who is fighting nationalist information charges that transportation a maximum punishment of beingness imprisonment. Before helium was elected Trump said helium would “100%” get Lai retired of jail.

May said Washington is besides acrophobic astir others, jailed for the peaceful look of governmental views.

“The different friction constituent successful my word present has been transnational repression, and it's precise disappointing to spot implicit my 3 years here, attempts by Hong Kong authorities to enforce the nationalist information instrumentality wrong the borders of the United States against U.S. persons,” helium said.

He was referring to accusations by Hong Kong authorities against immoderate overseas-based activists claiming they violated the information instrumentality and offering rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) for accusation starring to each of their arrests.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Consulate condemned the Hong Kong authorities for what it called repression of 4th of July celebrations aft metropolis acquisition authorities reportedly cautioned teachers and students not to be events marking the time and organized by American diplomats.

May said helium was disappointed implicit the determination and that it was “pretty perplexing.”

On Tuesday, the city’s acquisition bureau responded to media queries, saying schools person the work to beryllium bully gatekeepers and to heighten the sensitivity of teachers and students to nationalist information astatine that time.

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