Hong Kong slams US report alleging ‘repressive policies’ against dissidents

The Hong Kong government has denounced accusations in a US congressional commission report of “repressive policies” against dissidents under the guise of national security, labelling the allegations as “malicious smearing remarks”.

The 2024 annual report of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China released on Saturday, also called on Washington to sanction city officials deemed responsible for the acts.

The report dedicates one of its 20 chapters to Hong Kong, accusing Beijing of continuing to “interfere with Hong Kong’s affairs in violation of the ‘one country two systems’ principle.”

It also criticised the Hong Kong government for implementing “various repressive policies purportedly to protect national security”, citing what it called the “arbitrary application” of national security laws to prosecute and jail dissidents and activists.

The report said Washington should among other measures, remove the diplomatic privileges given to the three Hong Kong trade offices in the country, and consider imposing further sanctions on officials responsible for undermining democracy and human rights in the city.

It also called for extending the sales ban on crowd control equipment and munitions to Hong Kong police.