London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 30, 2025

Hong Kong leader dismisses concerns of Chinese power grab

Hong Kong leader dismisses concerns of Chinese power grab

"We are a very free society, so for the time being people have the freedom to say whatever they want to say," Lam told press.
Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday called on the territory's citizens to back proposed security laws by China that many in the territory fear would spell the end to their autonomy and civil rights.

''What we need is for the majority of Hong Kong to agree with the legislation," Lam said during a press conference.

"We are a very free society, so for the time being people have the freedom to say whatever they want to say," she said, in an apparent attempt to assuage fears that the law would side-step Hong Kong's own legislature and directly impose measures to stifle protest and free speech.

She also appeared to signal that once the draft law had passed, demonstrations like those that swept Hong Kong last year could be deemed illegal.

"If there is objection, we would deal with illegal opposition acts in accordance with law and will not back down," Lam added.

Her comments followed protests in the city over the weekend, as thousands clashed with police and were met with tear gas and water cannons. Police said those demonstrating broke social distancing rules in place due to the coronavirus and took part in unauthorized assemblies.

Last week, Chinese officials unveiled proposed legislation during China's annual national political convention that they said would tackle secession, subversion and terrorist activities. Parts of the bill, which Lam said would safeguard national security, are expected to be passed on Thursday, and represent a major turning point in the country's relationship with Hong Kong.

The territory has enjoyed a unique government structure since it was handed to China by Britain in 1997, enjoying a high-degree of autonomy with a free press and independent judiciary.

The draft legislation will be voted on by Chinese lawmakers this week, and likely pass, before progressing for further deliberation among party leaders in the NPC’s Standing Committee in June.

The bold move sent a chill through financial markets and drew a swift rebuke from foreign governments and international human rights groups, who fear it could lead to increased surveillance and censorship in Hong Kong.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed other countries' complaints on Sunday as "meddling," stating that the proposed laws would not harm Hong Kong autonomy or foreign investors.

"It does not affect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. There is no need for concern," Yi said.

Adding that Hong Kong had become a "pressing priority" for China's leaders and that the security laws would only target a "narrow category of acts."

He kept it vague defining the acts as those that would "seriously jeopardize national security."

Lam echoed his line, stating that Hong Kong's "vibrancy and core values ... the various rights and freedoms enjoyed by people, will continue to be there.''

Concerns have also been raised by Joshua Wong, a leader of the territory's pro-democracy movement, and others, about the possibility of a Chinese security force on the ground in Hong Kong. Lam dismissed such claims as "imagination" and said those concerned needed to wait for the details of the proposed legislation.

Beijing has not yet outlined the practical implementation of the law.

China's military officers, stationed in the country's Hong Kong garrison, have the determination and ability to safeguard China's national sovereignty and security, the garrison's commander Chen Daoxiang, said in an interview with Chinese state television on Tuesday.

Chen said the garrison firmly supported the Chinese parliament's Hong Kong security laws.

A blog published by Hong Kong's Secretary of Justice Teresa Cheng, on Tuesday, also outlined that China had the legal power and authority to pass the legislation. And that such laws would be "in compliance with the 'one country, two systems' principle."

Hong Kong police said they arrested more than 180 people on Sunday during protests. Adding that "rioters smashed and broke traffic lights," and had "blocked multiple roads."

More protests have been called for this week.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business federation, said it was "deeply concerned" by China’s draft security law and potential to "undermine" Hong Kong's unique model.

"It would be a serious mistake on many levels to jeopardize Hong Kong’s special status, which is fundamental to its role as an attractive investment destination and international financial hub," the trade body said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also criticized the proposed security laws and lashed out at China's wider handling of the coronavirus. China, in an intensifying war of words continued its anti-Pompeo rhetoric.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
Vietnam Faces Up to $25 Billion Export Loss as U.S. Tariffs Bite
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Indonesia Court Upholds Military Law Amid Concerns Over Expanded Civilian Role
Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch Join Trump-Backed Bid to Take Over TikTok
Trump and Musk Reunite Publicly for First Time Since Fallout at Kirk Memorial
Vietnam Closes 86 Million Untouched Bank Accounts Over Biometric ID Rules
Explosive Email Shows Sarah Ferguson Begged Forgiveness from Jeffrey Epstein After Taking His Money
×