On March 22, the US Consul General in Hong Kong, Mark Murray, publicly responded for the first time to Beijing’s “three red lines” against the US, emphasizing that the US is deeply concerned about the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and will continue to support Hong Kong. At a time when U.S.-China relations are tense, the U.S. is absent from a multi-country economic mission in the Greater Bay Area organized by Beijing. Outsiders have criticized Beijing for putting ideology above business and economic interests, which runs counter to the general direction of economic recovery.
The U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, Mark Murray, met with American expatriates on March 22, saying that the “red line” drawn by Beijing in February this year will not have any impact on his work, emphasizing that the U.S. is deeply concerned about Hong Kong’s autonomy under the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law Rights are being eroded and will continue to be heard.
In January of this year, Mel Rurui stated in an online seminar that 15,000 Americans in Hong Kong had left Hong Kong in the past two years due to the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law and the stringent epidemic prevention measures. He warned companies to be vigilant that business risks that they only faced in the mainland in the past will gradually appear in Hong Kong. He also believed that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China interpreted the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law and expanded the power of the Hong Kong executive authority, which may further damage Hong Kong. Judicial independence.
One month later, Liu Yuanyuan, the Special Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, had a rare “private” interview with Mei Rurui, raised “serious representations” and expressed strong dissatisfaction, criticizing his recent words and deeds for interfering in Hong Kong affairs, and drew three “red lines”: demand The United States must not endanger China’s national security, engage in political infiltration in Hong Kong, or slander and undermine Hong Kong’s development prospects.