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A28 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 27 May 2020
Hong Kong leader says security law not a threat to freedoms

By ZEN SOO it after hundreds of thou-
Associated Press sands of people came out
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong to protest.
Kong's leader said Tuesday Beijing has increasingly
that national security legis- pushed for measures such
lation proposed by China's as punishment for dis-
legislature will not threaten respecting the Chinese
the semi-autonomous ter- national flag or anthem
ritory's civil rights, despite — as often seen at soc-
widespread criticism of the cer games — along with a
move as an encroachment boost to pro-China patri-
on freedom of speech and otic-themed education in
assembly. schools. However, opposi-
The city's chief executive, tion in Hong Kong's Leg-
Carrie Lam, told reporters islative Council makes it
that there was "no need for unlikely a national security
us to worry" over the move bill could pass at the local
being considered by Chi- level, prompting Beijing to
na's ceremonial National utilize what some describe
People's Congress. as dubious legal grounds to
"Hong Kong has proven force the measures through
that we uphold and pre- at the national level.
serve those values," Lam The Chinese public is largely
said. "Hong Kong needs this seen as backing Xi's tough
piece of legislation for the Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters' questions during a press conference in approach to foreign policy
bigger benefit of the great Hong Kong, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. challenges, including criti-
majority of Hong Kong peo- Associated Press cism from the U.S., Australia
ple." laid down by Chinese Presi- cized the proposed legis- Hong Kong's Central busi- and others. Xi has made an
Lam also said that transit dent Xi Jinping, who is also lation and threatened to ness district, condemning unswerving line on national
service would resume at the head of the ruling Com- withdraw preferential trade Lam and her administra- interests a key signature of
Hong Kong's international munist Party. status for Hong Kong. tion. his rule since taking over
airport on June 1, but that Such a move has long Some "foreign politicians" The protests are a continu- leadership of the ruling par-
foreigners would still be been under consideration have "expressed untrue ation of a monthslong pro- ty in 2012.
banned from entering the and was hastened by last opinions" about the plan democracy movement Abroad, however, that
city as part of measures year's street protests in the to impose the law on Hong that began last year and policy has further bolstered
to prevent a new wave of former British colony, which Kong, Lam said, without has at times descended concerns about China's in-
coronavirus infections. was returned to Chinese giving details. into violence between po- tentions to dominate mar-
The move by China to pass rule in 1997. Beijing prom- Protesters have returned to lice and demonstrators. kets and assert its influence
the legislation signals the ised that the territory could Hong Kong's streets to op- Hong Kong's government is in the Asia-Pacific region.
central government's de- retain its own relatively lib- pose the legislation, with bound by Article 23 of the That may ultimately add
termination to take greater eral civil, legal and eco- thousands turning out on Basic Law — its mini-con- to Xi's difficulties in reviving
control of Hong Kong after nomic systems that con- Sunday as police fired tear stitution — to enact laws economic growth and jobs
months of pro-democracy trast starkly with the much gas and deployed a wa- to prohibit any act of trea- at a time when global mar-
protests last year. Beijing more centrally controlled ter cannon to disperse the son, secession, sedition or kets are partly shut due to
has appointed new rep- and authoritarian system in crowds. On Tuesday, over subversion against China. the coronavirus pandemic
resentatives in Hong Kong mainland China. 100 protesters gathered at It proposed legislation to and skepticism toward Chi-
who follow the hard line The U.S. has sharply criti- a luxury shopping mall in do so in 2003, but withdrew na runs high.q
Pandemic probe: Brazil police raid Rio governor’s residence

dence of Rio de Janeiro lice said in a statement. population with allegedly
Gov. Wilson Witzel on "There is absolutely no par- excessive stay-at-home
Tuesday, part of an inves- ticipation on my part in recommendations and
tigation into the alleged any type of irregularity," restrictions on commerce
embezzlement of public Witzel said in a statement. that he says will wreck the
resources in the state's re- He also implied that he economy and produce
sponse to the COVID-19 was the target of political worse hardship than the
pandemic. Police did not revenge, saying "interfer- virus. Bolsonaro, for his
say whether Witzel, a for- ence announced by the part, has been accused
mer federal judge, was president of the republic of attempting to improp-
personally targeted by has been made official." erly meddle in the federal
any of the 12 search and Brazilian President Jair Bol- police for political or per-
seizure warrants in Rio and sonaro has openly chal- sonal ends, a claim made
Federal police leave Laranjeiras Palace, the official residence Sao Paulo states. An ongo- lenged many governors' by former Justice Minister
of Rio de Janeiro Gov. Wilson Witzel, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ing investigation pointed measures for containing Sérgio Moro when he re-
Tuesday, May 26, 2020. to irregularities in contracts the spread of the new signed last month. The al-
Associated Press awarded for the construc- coronavirus, with Witzel a legations are at the heart
By MARCELO DE SOUSA RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — tion of emergency field primary focus. Bolsonaro of an investigation the Su-
and DIANE JEANTET Brazil's Federal Police hospitals in Rio, and in- has accused governors of preme Court authorized
Associated Press searched the official resi- volved health officials, po- inciting panic among the on April 27.q