Hong Kong may become ‘isolated’ if it does not ease fears over Article 23 law in US and Europe, former commerce chief says
- Former minister Frederick Ma again calls for government-led business delegations overseas to spread message of city’s actual situation and counter smears
- War of words has erupted between foreign critics and China over passing of domestic national security law, with Western nations accused of ‘double standards’
Frederick Ma Si-hang, the city’s former commerce and economic development minister, said on Sunday that business heavyweights also needed to be involved in explaining the actual situation in Hong Kong to their overseas partners.
“[The government] needs to go out and explain, mobilising the business sector to tell Hong Kong’s situation to their friends [overseas]. Only by doing so will we avoid getting isolated,” Ma told a radio programme.
“It is crucial for us to maintain contact with the international business community, especially in Europe and the United States … They have significant business interests in Hong Kong.”
Ma, now an honorary professor in economics at the University of Hong Kong, was renewing his earlier call for government-led business delegations to ward off smear campaigns while the city battled negative impressions such as those resulting from US sanctions imposed on certain local officials.
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Hong Kong passes domestic national security law, fast-tracking legislation shelved for 2 decades
