The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has hit out at a US travel advisory for the city over “slander” related to the national security law, urging Washington to revise its message to avoid hurting ties with the financial hub.
The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong voiced its strong opposition to claims in the government advisory that travellers should “exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws”.
This wording was the same as the advisory issued in April.
But the United States on Wednesday downgraded mainland China from level 3 to level 2 in its four-tier advisory system. Level 4 is for the most severe warnings.
Hong Kong’s status was maintained at level 2.
In the advisory, Washington also cited the enactment of the Beijing-decreed national security law in 2020 and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance introduced in March.
A spokesman for the commissioner’s office slammed the advisory, insisting Hong Kong was one of the safest and most livable cities in the world and the security legislation ensured a safer and stable environment.
