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A28 WORLD NEWS
Monday 1 June 2020
China says U.S. action on Hong Kong 'doomed to fail'

By KEN MORITSUGU promised formula of one
BEIJING (AP) — The mouth- country, two systems, with
piece newspaper of Chi- one country, one system,"
na's ruling Communist Party he said, echoing recent
said that the U.S. decision statements by pro-democ-
to end some trading privi- racy activists in Hong Kong.
leges for Hong Kong "gross- The Hong Kong govern-
ly interferes" in China's inter- ment accused Trump and
nal affairs and is "doomed his administration of smear-
to fail." ing and demonizing the
The Hong Kong govern- government's duty to safe-
ment called President Don- guard national security and
ald Trump's announcement called allegations that the
unjustified and said it is "not security law would under-
unduly worried by such mine individual freedoms
threats," playing down con- "simply fallacious."
cern that they could drive "President Trump's claim
companies away from the that Hong Kong now oper-
Asian financial and trading ated under 'one country,
center. one system' was complete-
An editorial Saturday in Chi- ly false and ignored the
na's official People's Daily facts on the ground," it said
newspaper said that at- Pro-China supporters hold the effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese national flag in a written statement.
tempts at "forcing China to outside the U.S. Consulate during a protest, in Hong Kong, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Separately, Hong Kong
make concessions on core Associated Press Secretary for Justice Teresa
interests including sover- Cheng told reporters that it
eignty and security through Hong Kong after its hando- Trump's announcement tions about how the trad- was "completely false and
blackmailing or coercion ... ver from British to Chinese and try to downplay any ing relationship will unravel wrong" to say the territory
can only be wishful thinking rule in 1997. economic fallout. and predicted that "it won't was losing its autonomy.
and day-dreaming!" "This hegemonic act of at- Tensions between the U.S. be like flipping a switch." She also criticized the U.S.,
Trump's move came after tempting to interfere in and China over Hong Kong U.S. Secretary of State Mike saying "any other state
China's ceremonial parlia- Hong Kong affairs and have increased over the Pompeo set the stage for that tries to use coercion
ment voted Thursday to grossly interfere in China's past year, with the U.S. de- Trump's announcement or whatever means with a
bypass Hong Kong's leg- internal affairs will not fright- fending pro-democracy by notifying Congress on view to interfering with the
islature and develop and en the Chinese people and protesters who clashed Wednesday that Hong sovereign right of a state to
enact national security leg- is doomed to fail," the Peo- with police last year and Kong no longer has the pass its own national secu-
islation on its own for the ple's Daily said. China vilifying them as vio- high degree of autonomy rity law is arguably infring-
semi-autonomous territory. In Hong Kong, small groups lent rioters and separatists. that it is guaranteed under ing on the principle of non-
Democracy activists and of Beijing supporters "It is now clear that Hong the "one country, two sys- intervention under public
many legal experts worry marched to the U.S. Con- Kong is caught in the mid- tems" framework. international law, and that
that the laws could curtail sulate on Saturday carry- dle of major China-U.S. ten- Trump said Friday that his is not acceptable."
free speech and opposi- ing Chinese flags and signs sions," said Tara Joseph, administration would begin Washington's response
tion political activities. protesting "American inter- president of the American eliminating the "full range" could include U.S. travel
The Chinese government ference in China's internal Chamber of Commerce in of agreements that had bans or other sanctions on
issued no official response affair" and calling Trump Hong Kong. "That is a real given Hong Kong a rela- officials connected with
Saturday, but has said pre- "shameless and useless." shame for Hong Kong and tionship with the U.S. that the crackdown on last
viously it would retaliate if Elsewhere in the city, it will be a challenge in the mainland China lacked, year's pro-democracy pro-
the U.S. went ahead with youthful activists including months ahead." including exemptions from tests, including members
its threat to revoke trading Joshua Wong held a news Joseph said there were controls on certain exports. of the Hong Kong police
advantages granted to conference to welcome many unanswered ques- "China has replaced its force. q

With cheap gasoline scarce, Venezuelans can buy at a premium

CARACAS, Venezuela ing $0.025 a liter, less than a to bridge deep shortages, Maduro's critics say years this transition.
(AP) — President Nicolás penny a gallon. unable to pump crude of corruption and misman- Tampering with fuel prices
Maduro said that starting The government will con- from the ground and turn it agement by the social- in the past has been an ex-
Monday Venezuelans will tinue to pay for all fuel used into gasoline. ist government led to the plosive subject. In 1989, riots
be able to buy gasoline at by public transportation, The last of five Iranian tank- scarcities. Fuel shortages broke out leading to nearly
international market prices, Maduro said. ers is approaching Venezu- have plagued the nation 300 deaths when then-Pres-
marking a historic break in "The time has come to ela's coast, but experts say for years, but scarcity re- ident Carlos Andrés Pérez
the socialist country's prac- move toward a new policy, that even those shipments cently has even hit the ordered an increase.
tice of having the world's toward a new normality, will supply the nation's driv- capital of Caracas, spark- It remains unclear how the
cheapest fuel. toward a new situation," ers for only a few weeks. ing mile-long lines at filling new system will work and
Across the nation, 200 filling Maduro said in a Saturday Venezuela's state-run oil stations that last for days. whether the government
stations will allow drivers to state TV broadcast, calling company PDVSA is also at- Maduro said days earlier can provide enough gaso-
fuel up for the equivalent it a step to "regularizing" the tempting to restart gasoline that he had appointed a line to meet demands.
of 50 cents a liter, or $1.90 costs. production with Iran's help. team to consider gasoline Opposition leader Juan
a gallon. Venezuelans will Venezuela has the world's Maduro accused the "im- prices. Venezuela paid in Guaidó was among crit-
also be able to buy a lim- largest underground oil perialist" United States for dollars for the Iranian gaso- ics speaking out Sunday
ited amount of subsidized reserves, but it has been leading an economic war line, Maduro said, asking against the new price
gasoline each month, pay- forced to buy fuel from Iran against Venezuela, while for the nation's support in structure.q