HK security chief promoted about 2 jobs in US | | Opposition News in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s top chief Carrie Lam has reshuffled his cabinet, naming Secretary of Security John Lee as Secretary-General of State and Deputy Chief of Police Chris Tang, in a bid to boost China’s resilience. ‘The region is in the midst of a call for increased sanctions from the US following the collapse of the pro-democracy Apple Daily.

At a press conference on Friday, Lam also announced that Deputy Commissioner Commissioner Raymond Siu would become the city’s new police chief.

Lee’s appointment as secretary general is the first time that a former police officer has taken a senior position in the region.

When he announced the election for Lam, he was re-elected and approved by the Chinese State Council. It was first advertised in Chinese newspapers.

In a brief statement following Friday’s announcement, Lee said he would ensure that “patriots” govern Hong Kong, and promised to help the chief executive put in place measures to end the COVID-19 epidemic.

Carrie Lam, Lee and Tang are now facing the press. pic.twitter.com/itlKs5wFqY

– Alvin Lum (@alvinllum) June 25, 2021

For his part, Tang said he has made sure that his supervisors help protect the city’s “national security”, and help combat domestic “terrorism” and threaten “external forces”. As police chief, Tang was the city’s most influential candidate during the 2019 democratic protests.

Meanwhile, Siu said he will continue to “lead the police faithfully and liaise with the people to protect Hong Kong’s national security.”

The three newly elected officials did not take questions from the media, leaving Lam to deal with the press. Jimmy Lai, the founder of the media group, was arrested last August and is awaiting trial under a National Security Law law passed by China in the region a year ago.

The change came a day after Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper, published the final edition after its translators and senior executives were arrested and their property confiscated. Lee described the detainees as “terrorists”, saying “ordinary journalists” should not be associated with them.

At a press conference, Lam told reporters that his vision for the city was to “promote” the legitimate rights of citizens, and that the law would be enforced.

China’s security law, which was imposed in Hong Kong, punishes cases of secession, sedition and alliance with foreign troops for life.

Beijing argues that the law is necessary to address segregation and international interference, but critics say the law is now being used to target protesters and freedom fighters, based on fines for several individuals under the law.

Ordering US sanctions

Recent events in Hong Kong, including the closure of the Apple Daily newspaper, prompted two leading US cinemas to urge President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on those involved, and that foreign banks are among those involved.

Senator Pat Toomey, Republican Senate Banking Committee member and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the committee, said the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, passed last year, required the US Secretary of State to recognize any foreign Congress, including foreign businesses. material “so that” the people of Hong Kong do not have the right to freedom of assembly, speech, press, or the rule of law. “

“It appears that Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily’s massive repercussions are affecting many outsiders who are concerned with Part 5 of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act,” the letter said.

The letter quoted Reuters news agency report last month as Lee, the new Secretary-General, sent letters to Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai and HSBC and Citibank affiliates threatening to spend seven years in prison for doing anything with the city’s billionaire account.

Lee ordered the branches to suspend Lai’s accounts, “which it appears to have done,” said a video message sent to Reuters.

About 500 police officers earlier this week harassed Apple Daily and the letter said the Hong Kong Security Bureau ordered Apple Daily banks to suspend the newspaper’s assets, “which led to the closure.”

“We urge your supervisors to fully comply with the Hong Kong security law in the near future due to the unfair treatment of Jimmy Lai and the forced closure of Apple Daily,” he said.

Film laws require that individuals and organizations be prosecuted for violating Hong Kong’s independence and other restrictions on banks that do business with the public.

In their letter, the filmmakers further added that it was their understanding that the law on foreign banks was issued impartially, by one employee outside the court, and without any charges or charges.

“These laws reinforce the view of many that the law no longer exists in Hong Kong,” he said.

Last month, a Citian spokesman said in response to a Reuters report that the bank must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries in which it operates.

HSBC declined to comment, but CEO Noel Quinn previously said the bank should comply with police requests in every country in the world.

On Thursday, Biden called the closure of Apple Daily a “sad day for the freedom of the press” and said it was a sign of “growing oppression” by China, while vowing to continue to help people living in China’s territory.

He did not name any plans to impose further sanctions on the project.

The closure has been described by Human Rights Watch as a “systematic violation” of human rights and political policies in the city and by the Chinese government.

“The people of Hong Kong see the Chinese government actively destroying their democratic state,” said Maya Wang, China’s chief investigator at HRW.

HRW said Beijing’s move to Hong Kong was “cohesive and transparent and appears to be aimed at transforming a free city into a Chinese Community Party.”

In March, Biden’s administration identified 24 Chinese officials previously approved by Trump’s administration as responsible for curtailing Hong Kong’s independence.

He also said that foreign investment agencies that are actively involved now could face sanctions.

However, in their recent report to Congress on the need for a bill in May, the department of Treasure did not recognize foreign financial institutions doing business with those people.