Hong Kong: 'US will be hurting their own interests' - Lam on possible trade restrictions

W/S Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam arriving for press conference, Hong Kong
M/S Press
SOT, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Chief Executive: "The task and my stance is to point out to the American government and indeed to other governments, should that occasion arise, that they will be hurting their own interests in Hong Kong. And so we have substantiated by giving the trade figures which are always to the American favour in terms of the trade surplus they have been enjoying from this bilateral trade in goods with Hong Kong. I have pointed out to you that there are over 1,300 American companies in Hong Kong which have been treated in exactly the same way as a local company in accessing the Mainland market under the CEPA, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. I have pointed to you that we have been granting visa-free access to American passport holders even if we do not receive reciprocal treatment."
M/S Press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Chief Executive: "It’s not a matter of taking away people’s freedoms. Actually public health is also part of national security. National security is not just about explosives and rifles. National security includes financial security, includes public health security. So when it comes to matters like public security, people will accept, Hong Kong people willingly abide by some of the restrictions in order to protect themselves, their families and society at large."
W/S Press conference
W/S Government offices
W/S Government offices
SCRIPT
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam warned the US that they will be "hurting their own interests" by revoking Hong Kong’s special trading status in response to a proposed new Chinese security law.
Over 1,300 US companies have been operating in Hong Kong, Lam said, adding that trade figures have always been "to the American favour in terms of the trade surplus they have been enjoying from this bilateral trade."
Lam continued: "we have been granting visa-free access to American passport holders even if we do not receive reciprocal treatment."
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said China's moves to introduce a new national security law for Hong Kong will affect US relations with the territory, apparently putting under threat the territory's special trading status with the US.
"China's latest incursion along with other recent developments that degraded the territory's freedoms makes clear that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to warrant the special freedom that we have warranted the territory," he said.