Govt condemns group for Article 23 sanctions call
The SAR government on Sunday said it strongly condemned the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK) for urging the United States to impose so-called sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing officials, particularly those involved in Basic Law Article 23 national security legislation. In a statement, a government spokesperson accused the group of attempting to intimidate officials. "The CFHK Foundation attempted to collude with a foreign country or with external elements, and blatantly clamoured at this juncture for so-called 'sanctions' against dutiful officials of the Central and HKSAR governments with a view to intimidating them, completely ignoring the due legislative procedures of the HKSAR and fully demonstrating its despicable intention. The HKSAR Government strongly condemned the foundation," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that US-based Frances Hui, who is wanted in Hong Kong for an alleged national security offence, is a core member of the group. "The foundation has initiated a number of anti-China campaigns, including requesting the imposition of so-called 'sanctions' on officials of the Central and HKSAR governments as well as closure of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the US. The foundation's earlier claim emphasising that it was not anti-China is obviously untrue. Members of the public should discern facts from fallacies," the spokesperson said. The government said the foundation's acts demonstrate the necessity of measures in the Article 23 bill to target absconders charged with offences endangering national security, including cancelling the passports of such people.