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Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong hits out at US, Canada over travel advisories
- Both US and Canada warn their citizens to exercise caution while in Hong Kong due to enactment of domestic national security law
- Commissioner’s office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong says advisories defame city’s national security laws and tarnish human rights situation in city
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Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has hit out at the US and Canada for “conducting political manipulation”, shortly after they refreshed travel warnings calling on their citizens to exercise extra caution in the city following the enactment of the domestic national security law.
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The commissioner’s office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Saturday issued a strongly worded statement warning countries, including the pair, to immediately stop defaming and smearing the city’s laws. The office also demanded the withdrawal of what it called inaccurate travel advisories and erroneous assessments.
In an updated travel advisory on Friday, the United States told its nationals to exercise “increased caution” when visiting Hong Kong due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws”, which included the national security law Beijing imposed in 2020 and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance enacted last month.
On Thursday, Canada called for the second time in a month for “a high degree of caution” for its citizens travelling to Hong Kong due to the laws.
An office spokesman condemned the issuance of the advisories.
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“The travel advisories issued by certain countries disregard objective facts, maliciously undermine Hong Kong’s international reputation and seek to obstruct normal business and personnel exchanges,” he said.
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