Washington, PTI The US criticized China’s move to implement the controversial National Security Act in Hong Kong and warned it to bear the consequences. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was a ‘sad day’ for the people of the region. Significantly, Chinese President Xi Chinfing signed Hong Kong’s controversial National Security Act on Tuesday. Under this law, a person convicted of endangering national security, segregation with foreign forces, sabotage and terrorism can be sentenced to a maximum life term. This new law will allow China’s security agencies to open their offices in Hong Kong for the first time. In Hong Kong, this law will come into force from today.
Pompeo said strongly on Tuesday night, ‘The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) destroyed the region’s autonomy and one of China’s greatest achievements by deciding to implement a brutal national security law in Hong Kong. Hong Kong, one of the most successful economies and vibrant societies in the world, demonstrated to the world what independent Chinese people could achieve. But the ‘fear’ of China’s own people’s aspirations has transformed this ‘one country, two systems’ into ‘one country, one system’. For Hong Kong today, and for freedom-loving people all over China It’s a sad day. ‘