(Bloomberg) — The top U.S. diplomat in Hong Kong warned of increasing internet censorship in the city, underscoring concerns that China’s crackdown on freedoms is undermining the city’s appeal as a global financial hub.
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In his first interview since taking office in 2022, U.S. Consul General Gregory May warned that connectivity issues and data security concerns are prompting some U.S. companies to use burner phones and laptops when visiting the once-free enclave computer.
“Hong Kong is starting to go down a slippery slope of trying to remove certain content from the internet and block certain websites,” he told Bloomberg News on Thursday. “Once internet censorship starts, it’s a bit of a slippery slope. Where does it end?”
The government’s move to remove “Glory to Hong Kong,” a song popular during anti-government protests in 2019, from the Internet in Hong Kong highlights the operational risks for Western technology giants such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Meta Platforms Inc. Access to a handful of websites was also blocked, including that of British human rights group Hong Kong Watch. Officials have justified such actions on national security grounds.
While Hong Kong’s internet remains largely free, the initial restrictions stoked fears that mainland China’s tight controls could spread to Hong Kong, where many Western platforms are blocked and censors often remove content critical of the government.
The U.S. diplomat’s criticism comes as Hong Kong tries to solidify its status as an international business hub and attract tourists to boost its flagging economy. The city’s global reputation has taken a hit after years of pandemic isolation led to a brain drain, while a sweeping crackdown on political freedoms made it a flashpoint in tensions between the world’s two superpowers.
“Releasing Jimmy Lai and others facing jail time for political speech — their release would do more to improve Hong Kong’s image than all the financial summits and tourism promotions combined,” May said. Lai Zhi, a 76-year-old pro-democracy activist, faces life in prison under a national security law implemented by Beijing in 2020.
The Hong Kong government late on Friday condemned Theresa May’s comments as “alarmist” and said its efforts to safeguard national security would protect the rights of Hong Kong businesses.
Mei, a career diplomat who worked as a journalist before serving in the mainland Chinese cities of Shenyang and Guangzhou, called on the government to reassure businesses of its commitment to a free and open internet and business-friendly data controls.
“Of course we want a better relationship with Hong Kong. We just need Hong Kong to stop slipping,” May said of Hong Kong’s restrictions on freedoms. “While we hope that the economic relationship continues to be good, frankly our priorities are more in the political realm.”
The United States has sanctioned Hong Kong leader John Lee over President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on dissent, while Beijing accuses Washington of orchestrating the massive protests against Communist Party influence that rocked Hong Kong in 2019. Congress passed a bill last year that could close three U.S. economic and trade offices in Hong Kong if the financial hub is not seen as highly independent from Beijing.
Hours before Theresa May’s interview, the U.S. State Department expressed concern about Hong Kong’s proposed new domestic security law, saying it adopted a “broad and vague” definition of state secrets and external interference that could be used to Silencing critics. The local measure is in addition to a Chinese-drafted national security law and has raised concerns about a chilling effect on public discussion of economic and policy issues.
“The last thing Hong Kong needs after the National Security Law is more and very widespread new crimes,” Mei said. He declined to say what the U.S. government would do if Hong Kong passes the law.
The city government on Thursday called the State Council’s remarks “irresponsible” and an interference in China’s internal affairs. China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the new national security law targets “a very small number of criminals who endanger national security” and will protect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents.
The authorities vowed to press ahead with the Article 23 legislation set out in the mini-constitution after a month-long consultation process ended on Wednesday. Lee Myung-bak’s government said it had received “majority support from the public” and would work to finalize a bill as soon as possible.
May said the U.S. government had “actively decided not to participate” in the consultations, adding that it was up to the people of Hong Kong to provide feedback. While sanctions against Lee limit his access to the leader, the U.S. diplomat said he uses other channels to communicate with city officials.
Despite the challenges, May said he believed the former British colony retained important commercial advantages. He said Hong Kong’s relationship with the United States could improve if officials abide by the 1984 Hong Kong handover agreement, which promised Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy from Beijing within 50 years.
However, he warned that U.S. companies could face backlash at home due to a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong that includes offering bounties on the heads of overseas activists living in the United States.
“If you operate in Hong Kong, American companies have to be mindful of their reputation on Capitol Hill,” he said. “Some of them are concerned about being in the spotlight of the United States, and rightly so, because what Hong Kong is doing, like putting bounties on, shows a very negative side – and the United States is reacting to that.”
—With assistance from Philip Graman.
(Updated Hong Kong government statement in paragraph 8)
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