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By James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Some Hong Kong lawmakers left the Legislative Council when city president Carrie Lam was about to deliver her annual political speech on Wednesday to protest the refusal of a visa. working for a top British journalist.
Singing "Protecting Media Freedom" and holding placards stating "Free Press." No persecution, "a dozen pro-democracy legislators left the room before Mr. Lam delivers a 45-minute speech outlining the political priorities of the former British colony.
The protest came after Hong Kong last week rejected an application for a visa renewal from Victor Mallet, editor-in-chief of the Financial Times newspaper in Asia, who gave a speech to the foreign correspondents' club held by activist independence.
The Hong Kong and Lam authorities have so far refused to explain the visa decision.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under the principle of "one country, two systems" guaranteeing a high degree of autonomy and freedoms, including freedom of the press, enjoyed nowhere else in China .
But talking about independence is anathema to the leaders of the Communist Party in Beijing.
"We expressed our anger and disgust at Carrie Lam," said Claudia Mo, a member of the legislature for democracy, who took part in the protest.
"She is practically transforming Hong Kong into an international joke (…) She is determined to rule by fear."
The FCC, one of Asia's leading press clubs, said it did not approve or oppose the views of its speakers, but was an institution defending the right to freedom of speech.
The visa refusal triggered a storm of protests and prompted criticism from the United States and Britain. British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday that the visa refusal was "politically motivated" and called on the authorities to reconsider their decision.
Critics say China's authoritarian stance is infiltrating even more in Hong Kong.
"The mainland authorities routinely restrict people's ability to engage in peaceful advocacy and public debate on" national security "grounds by using this vague and broadly defined concept as a pretext for imposing unjustified restrictions on Exercise these freedoms, "wrote Amnesty International. in a report.
"The Hong Kong government also seems to pursue an expanded concept of" national security. "
"RED LINE"
Since taking office last July, Mr. Lam has faced a number of challenges, including an economy and financial markets weakened by the US-China trade war and one of the world's largest real estate markets. expensive of the world.
Political tensions between democracy and independence activists who resist China's tightening of control of the city have continued to simmer.
In his speech, Lam warned against anyone looking to separate Hong Kong from China.
"Hong Kong will not tolerate any act that promotes Hong Kong's independence and threatens the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.
"We will act without fear against such acts in accordance with the law in order to preserve the interests of the country and Hong Kong," Lam said in a full text of his speech.
Senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, have warned that any attack on national sovereignty is a "red line" that can not be crossed.
Chinese officials and pro-Beijing politicians have stepped up their calls in recent months for Hong Kong to enact new national security laws under Article 23 of the city's mini-constitution, the Law. fundamental.
This stipulates that Hong Kong must adopt laws prohibiting acts of treason, secession, sedition and subversion against the Chinese government.
In 2003, however, an attempt to enact such legislation drew in the street nearly half a million protesters, who were eventually put away.
In her orientation speech, Ms. Lam reiterated that Hong Kong was required to promulgate such laws, but only when there was a "favorable social environment".
She did not specify a schedule.
"This issue has aroused public concern and intense discussions on Article 23 legislation," she said. "I will listen seriously to these points of view and explore ways to enable Hong Kong society to respond positively to this constitutional requirement."
(Report by James Pomfret, Clare Jim, Donny Kwok, edited by Darren Schuettler, Neil Fullick and Nick Macfie)
