SAR government slams US House over ETO legislation
The government on Tuesday condemned the United States House of Representatives of making use of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, saying it is slandering laws on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong and smearing the human rights situation. It made the comment after the House voted to advance legislation that could close the SAR's trade offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. In a strongly-worded statement, the SAR government described the bill as a self deception of double standards. It said the legislation was a fact-twisting attack on Hong Kong that was politically driven, violated international law, and grossly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs. It said the three economic trade offices in the US were operating in accordance with local legislation in areas such as trade, investment, culture and the arts and that they were mutually beneficial to the US and Hong Kong.  The statement said despite the US having strong national security legislation, the act slanders the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.