• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

United States implores authorities in Hong Kong to "exercise restraint"

by Terry Xu
30/09/2014
in Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
5

(White House Image press secretary Josh Earnest)
The White House on Monday implored authorities in Hong Kong to “exercise restraint” amid mass pro-democracy protests following Beijing’s decision to restrict reforms in the territory.
The Occupy Central movement lead by students on 28 September, Sunday was in protest against the “fake democracy” by the China government on Hong Kong, as the mainland refused to allow a full slate of candidates in the 2017 vote for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, the city’s top government official.
The peaceful protests on Sunday met with chaos after Hong Kong police force tried to disperse the crowd, using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters.
The position of Chief Executive is currently chosen by a 1,200-member committee dominated by Beijing loyalists. On August 31, Beijing’s National Peoples’ Committee decided it would allow elections for the post in 2017 but only two or three candidates who are vetted by a pro-Beijing nomination committee will be allowed to stand for elections.
Various unions and professional groups have called for strikes to protest against the violence used by the Hong Kong police force and to demand for universal suffrage.
Banks and other businesses across Hong Kong were forced to close due to the blocked traffic by protesters and strikes by Hong Kong workers. The Ministry of Education of Hong Kong declared a school holiday on Monday in view of calls for strikes by teacher unions, such as the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, in response to the unwarranted violence by the police.
“The United States supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the basic law, and we support the aspirations of the Hong Kong people,” press secretary Josh Earnest said.
“We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.”
Earnest said the U.S. hoped that protesters “express their views peacefully” but that the administration “believe that the basic legitimacy of the chief executive in Hong Kong will be greatly enhanced” by a “genuine choice of candidates that are representative of the peoples’ and the voters’ will.”
A spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned on Monday that foreign countries should be “cautious” about weighing in on the protests.
“Hong Kong belongs to China. Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s domestic affairs,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, according to the Los Angeles Times. “We strongly oppose any countries interfering or supporting Occupy Central by any methods. We wish these countries to be cautious.”
But Earnest said he was not concerned about weighing in.
“We’ve been very clear about what our principles and what our priorities are. They certainly apply to this situation in particular,” Earnest said.
“And, you know, we have been very consistent in voicing our support to the People’s Republic of China for universal suffrage and for the aspirations of the Hong Kong people, and we’re going to continue to do so.”
President Obama is expected to travel to Beijing in November, but the White House wouldn’t say if Obama planned to raise the issue during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I do feel confident, however, in saying that the President will certainly raise that the protection of basic universal human rights is critically important,” Earnest said. “That’s something that the President has done in every interaction that he’s had with the Chinese leadership.
“I’m confident that that will be part of the conversation that he is looking forward to having in November,” he added.
(Extracts from The Hill, additional reporting by Terry Xu)

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

US tells vaccinated people in high COVID risk areas to mask again
AFP

White House says US COVID emergency status to end 11 May

31/01/2023
Editorial

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

31/01/2023
258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period
Politics

Desmond Lee files Ministerial Motion to affirm commitment on affordable public housing in Singapore

31/01/2023
Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal
Business

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit
Malaysia

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport
Comments

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
5 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

US tells vaccinated people in high COVID risk areas to mask again

White House says US COVID emergency status to end 11 May

31/01/2023

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

31/01/2023
258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period

Desmond Lee files Ministerial Motion to affirm commitment on affordable public housing in Singapore

31/01/2023
Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

30/01/2023
Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

30/01/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
14

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
59

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
49

...

September 2014
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Aug   Oct »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz