China on Monday defended barring the head of Human Rights Watch from entering Hong Kong, saying non-governmental organisations were responsible for political unrest in the semi-autonomous city and should “pay the proper price”.
Kenneth Roth was supposed to give a press conference in Hong Kong this week to unveil the New York-based group’s latest global survey, but he said on Sunday he was turned back by authorities at the city’s airport.
China last month announced sanctions on American NGOs, including HRW, in retaliation for the passage of a US bill backing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Kenneth Roth was supposed to give a press conference in Hong Kong this week to unveil the New York-based group’s latest global survey, but he said on Sunday he was turned back by authorities at the city’s airport.
China last month announced sanctions on American NGOs, including HRW, in retaliation for the passage of a US bill backing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Global Times✔@globaltimesnews
#Breaking:China's central govt and #HongKong SAR govt always deal with border entry issues in line with the law, and it is in the discretion of #China's sovereignty to allow or deny entry to any individual: Geng Shuang on reported rejection entry to @hrw executive director to #HK
“Plenty of facts and evidence show that the relevant NGO has through various means supported anti-China radicals, encouraged them to engage in extremist, violent and criminal activity, and incited Hong Kong independence separatist activities,” Geng said.
Hong Kong has been battered by nearly seven months of occasionally violent protests, its biggest political crisis in decades.
Millions have turned out on the streets of the semi-autonomous financial hub to demand greater democratic freedoms.
Roth said he had hoped to “spotlight Beijing’s deepening assault on international efforts to uphold human rights” during his visit to Hong Kong.
“The refusal to let me enter Hong Kong vividly illustrates the problem,” he said.
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