COMMENT | Foreigners should stay out of Hong Kong and China's affairs

COMMENT | The situation in Hong Kong is certainly not a satisfactory state of affairs. There is unhappiness among the deprived Hong Kong people with the gross income inequality and crowded housing conditions created by years of British colonialism and capitalism.

Nevertheless, it is hypocritical that the likes of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten should put their names to a memorandum that has warned China that a new Chinese security law for Hong Kong is a “comprehensive assault” on its rights and freedoms and “cannot be tolerated”.

They claim to have “grave concerns” about the legislation and fear it would jeopardise the city’s future. Chris Patten says the decision by the Chinese government to “unilaterally impose national security legislation in Hong Kong” is unacceptable while Mike Pompeo has described it as a “death knell” for the city’s autonomy and has threatened reprisals. I understand some Asean, including Malaysian, parliamentarians have also signed this US/British inspired memorandum.