Washington condemns a Chinese draft resolution to impose national security in Hong Kong

The United States condemned a bill in the Chinese parliament aimed at imposing new security restrictions on Hong Kong, and urged Beijing to reconsider the bill, abide by its international obligations and respect Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic institutions and civil liberties.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that China's decision to bypass Hong Kong's legislature and to ignore the will of the people there would mark the end of the self-rule promised by Hong Kong in the framework of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

He added that any decision that undermines Hong Kong's freedoms will affect Washington's assessment of these territories and China as a whole "as one country with two systems."

China stepped up its rhetoric against the anti-government movement in Hong Kong, and submitted to parliament Friday a law on "national security" in the semi-autonomous city, which last year witnessed massive protests.

The law was brought up for discussion during the annual session of the National People's Assembly, which began its work Friday in Beijing.

The bill aims to prevent "treason, separation, rebellion and sabotage" in Hong Kong, in response to the massive demonstrations organized by the opposition last year.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carry Lam stressed Friday that she is ready "for full cooperation" with Beijing to implement the law the Chinese authorities intend to implement.

Carrie Lam said in a statement that the law proposal "will not affect the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents," and justified the interference of the Chinese parliament in Hong Kong's constitutional affairs with the violence that occurred last year during the demonstrations.

This is not the first time that central authorities have sought to enforce such a law in Hong Kong, and Article 23 of the Basic Law used two decades ago as a constitution stipulates that the region should have a law prohibiting "treason, separation, rebellion and sabotage." But the clause was never applied because much of Hong Kong's population sees this as a threat to their freedoms.