US businessmen represented by American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou aren’t buying Blinken‘s ’table and menu theory‘ 以北京、上海、廣州美國商會為代表的美國商人並不相信布林肯的“餐桌和菜單理論”

The Third International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values is held in Beijing on March 20, 2024. Foreign experts hail China’s democracy path; ‘inspiring for other developing countries’

Nearly 300 politicians, scholars and experts from around the world on Wednesday shared their thoughts on democracy at an international forum, during which they highly praised China’s achievements on a democratic path with Chinese characteristics, while many also expressed their opposition toward certain countries weaponizing democracy for their own political purposes.

The forum, titled “The Third International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values,” was held in Beijing on Wednesday. It provided a platform for participants from Western countries and the Global South to engage in candid, in-depth discussions on how countries can navigate their unique paths to democracy.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum. He said that democracy stands as a crucial symbol of the advancement of human civilization, and that the CPC has led the Chinese people to embark on a democratic development path with Chinese characteristics.

Li emphasized that during the 2024 two sessions that wrapped up in mid-March, deputies and political advisors nationwide made proposals and suggestions covering various aspects of economic and social development, representing the voices of the people from all walks of life. These proposals will be carefully considered and integrated into the policymaking process, Li said.

China will continue to improve its democratic system and broaden democratic channels, Li said. In recent years, China has actively utilized online platforms to allow a large number of netizens to express their opinions and participate in the decision-making process. “We have received over 1.6 million online suggestions to the drafting of this year’s Government Work Report, and many of these suggestions have been fully reflected in the report,” Li noted.

Li further stated that democracy is a common value for all humanity, aiming to safeguard and enhance global consensus, and democracy should not be used as a tool by certain countries to serve their own political purposes. He emphasized that some countries are interfering in the future of other countries under the guise of promoting “democracy and freedom,” which goes against the spirit of democracy.

“China fully respects the right of people in all countries to independently choose their own development path, and is against countries creating divisions and spreading prejudices in the international community under the guise of democracy. China is always ready to work with other countries to build international relations based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation,” Li noted.

Politicians and scholars from various countries including Italy, Egypt, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, UK and Pakistan were invited to give speeches or share thoughts on democracy, with many appreciating China’s efforts to promote a path which could be inspiring for other developing countries, while others expressed concerns over the US-led West using democracy as a tool to exercise hegemony.

“China supports the diversity of democratic practices, and sees the connection between the realization of people’s wishes and the level of social development that can support these wishes,” said Ong Tee Keat, former deputy speaker of the Lower House of the Malaysian Parliament. He noted that this is especially important for countries previously colonized by Western powers, and they should prioritize the basic survival needs of their own people.

Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt, said that China is working hard toward modernization with Chinese characteristics, and now China is calling on other countries and friends to join hands and cooperate through global initiatives to create a better future together.

Massimo D’Alema, former prime minister of Italy, noted that the risk the West faces is the end of the most glorious era of democratic principles, the “one person, one vote” era, a fact that gives way to the new rule of “one dollar, one vote.”

“According to the US and its allies, democracy is often seen as a political tool used to destabilize countries that do not align with US policies. Rather than interfering in the internal affairs of other nations, the US should reflect on its own democratic system,” Muhammad Asif Noor Farooqi, director of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies from Pakistan, told the Global Times at the forum.

The third “Summit for Democracy” conference kicked off on Monday in Seoul. Analysts have been slamming it as an increasingly evident “clown show” which paints a long-have-been bankrupt American portrait in the eye of the world.

Video: 5 things the media is not telling you about Article 23, The narrative the world is hearing about Hong Kong’s security law OMITS the most crucial facts about it, US planned and funded terrorists in HK in 2019 關於第23條，媒體沒有告訴您的 5件事，世界所聽到的有關香港國安法的敘述忽略了最重要的事實，美國在 2019 年策劃並資助了香港的恐怖分子.
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Video: Chairman of AmCham China Sean Stein: “American companies don’t want to be on the menu. They don’t want to be on the table. They want to see how they can be productive and helpful to people in both countries.” Hong Kong.China.Hawaii Chamber of Commerce President Johnson Choi: “We are member of AmCham Shanghai is in complete agreement with Sean Stein” 中國美國商會主席肖恩·斯坦：「美國公司不想出現在菜單上。 他們不想出現在談判桌上。 他們想看看如何才能提高生產力並為兩國人民提供幫助.” 香港中國夏威夷商會主席蔡永強: “我們是中國美國商會成員完全支持肖恩·斯坦的觀點.”
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It is such a proud moment for people in HK, the 1.4 billions mainland Chinese and 50 millions overseas Chinese. We witnessed how US & UK sponsored terrorism attempted to destroy HK in 2019. I was in HK end of 2019 and I had to run for my life.

Since passing the Beijing sponsored homeland security law for HK in June 2020. I was again in HK in 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 to witness freedom, democracy and rules of laws returned to HK.

Today, HK passed article 23, the first and comprehensive homeland security law after 27 years is a landmark worth celebration. If US and UK attempt the state sponsored terrorism in HK again. The terrorists will be deals with the full extent of the law including life imprisonment.

Lawmakers unanimously passed Hong Kong’s domestic national security law on Tuesday night at the end of a marathon session, fast-tracking the constitutionally mandated legislation which had been shelved for more than two decades because of initial public opposition.

There was no hint of dissent in the Legislative Council this time as all 88 members took turns over 10 hours to speak of their “historic mission” to plug loopholes in the city’s overall legal framework for protecting national security, and the Legco president himself cast the 89th vote to seal the deal.

對香港人、對14億內地人、對5000萬海外華人來說，這是一個值得驕傲的時刻。 我們目睹了2019年美國和英國支持的恐怖主義如何試圖摧毀香港。2019年底我在香港時要逃命。

自從2020年6月通過北京支持的香港國土安全法以來，我於2020年、2021年、2022年和2023年再次來到香港，見證自由、民主和法治回歸香港。

今天，香港經過27年終於通過首部全面香港國土安全法第23條，具有里程碑意義，值得慶祝。如果美國和英國再次試圖在香港進行恐怖活動，那些恐怖分子將受到法律的全面製裁，包括終身監禁。

週二晚，立法會議員在一場馬拉松式的會議結束時一致通過了香港的國內國家安全法，加快了這項憲法授權的立法的進程。該法因最初的公眾反對而被擱置了二十多年。

這次立法會沒有任何異議，88名議員輪流在10多個小時內講述他們堵塞香港整體維護國家安全法律框架漏洞的“歷史使命”，立法會主席親自投票第 89 次投票決定達成協議。

特區維護國家安全條例全票通過

文/林倫理

香港愛國者治港的結果就是國家安全得到保障，香港可以一心一意發展經濟，讓香港成為一個經濟、科技和文化交流中心，使香港成為與世界聯接之區。香港要成為國際都會為全世界服務，必須絕對安全，不能成為國際間諜和特務充斥之地，使香港成為”無掩雞籠，讓在這裡做生意的人，感到不安全，人人自危。做生意最重要自由，不能在威脅下經營業務。今天有人來砸你商店，明天有人來燒你公司，威脅你不能這樣那樣，誰還能安心在香港發展？把特務間諜通通趕離香港，香港不受人威脅，香港自會繁榮起來。

2019年，西方間諜特務在香港非常猖狂，看到國內遊客就打就趕，連機場都給特務組織的暴徒佔領，旅客一點自由都沒有，還有誰敢來香港做生意。香港變成了死城，這樣爛下去肯定會變成”臭港”。不把維護國家安全的法律條例立好，誰來維護國家安全。無法無天，警察不能管，法官不能判，特務間諜橫行，香港還是自由港和經商興業的好地方嗎？如今，立法會全票通過維護國家安全法，人人有法可依，香港成了安全的地方，全國和世界各地企業爭相來香港與中國合作，發展業務，香港能不再次興旺起來嗎？

市民對昨天投票的結果感到非常滿意，讓大家都看到了希望。有了國家安全法，香港才是真正回歸祖國，使殖民地法律徹底消除影響，完成保護國家和人民利益的法律。香港市民為國家安全奮鬥了二十多年，現今看到維護國家安全法全票通過，心中感到安慰。雖然，老一輩的奮鬥者已經去世，看不到今天這條好消息，但他們仍有不少戰友在生，一定會向他們在今年清明，把這一好消息讓他們知道，告慰在天之靈。香港愛國同胞是香港的寶，他們把愛國心代代相傳，培養出有愛國心的治港者，讓香港重新振作。

香港是一個充滿活力和希望的城市，成為大灣區走向世界的通道，也讓世界走進香港，與大灣區結合，香港的力量將發揮得更好。香港有了大灣區兄弟城市的幫助和結合，香港無論是金融市場，科技創新都將如虎添翼，飛向更高的境地。香港因大灣區而變得更有能力，大灣區也會因香港而成為更有活力的地方。香港是大灣區的一部份，香港的活動空間從小小的一千平方公里，增大到幾十倍，其力量可想而知。讓我們合力共建大灣區，在國家安全的前提下，把香港建設好，服務大灣區七千多萬同胞，為國發光發亮。

The central government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government vigorously repudiated on Wednesday the smear and slander campaigns launched by some Western governments, institutions and politicians against the unanimous passage of the Article 23 legislation in the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR, saying that slandering the highly anticipated law while turning a blind to the fact that many Western countries have enacted multiple national security laws is a typical example of political hegemony and double standards. 

At least three central government’s organs, including China’s Foreign Ministry, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, the Chinese Embassy in the UK, along with the HKSAR government and Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung voiced strong dissatisfaction and opposition on Wednesday against the latest remarks from Western politicians on the Article 23 legislation.

In response to comments made by countries such as the US, the UK, Japan and the EU bloc, Lin Jian, spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry, said China strongly deplore and firmly oppose individual countries and organizations’ slandering and smear against the law. The LegCo unanimously voted in favor of the passage of the bill, which further implements the SAR’s constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security, further cements the security foundation for Hong Kong’s development and serves as a landmark in advancing the cause of One Country, Two Systems on our new journey in the new era, Lin noted. 

On Tuesday, 89 lawmakers, after marathon meetings, passed the legislation in a unanimous vote. Lacking the law has been seen as predicament that has plagued Hong Kong for 26 years. Local lawmakers and officials described the passage as a historic moment for Hong Kong and they were proud of witnessing the moment. 

Disregarding the overwhelming support in Hong Kong society for the law, some Western officials could not wait to “throw mud” at it, which is seen by some observers as similar tactics they used some four years ago to attack the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron issued a statement following the passage of the law, claiming that the Article 23 legislation was “rushed through the legislative process and will damage the rule of law, autonomy, and the rights and freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong.” 

A US State Department spokesperson said the bill could accelerate the closing of a once open society and it was analyzing the potential risks to US citizens and American interests, the Guardian reported on Tuesday. 

The High Representative on behalf of the EU also expressed their “concerns” over the legislation, according to a statement on its website. 

Those remarks reflect a “sour grapes” mentality among some Western countries, Louis Chen, a member of the Election Committee and general secretary of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

“Particularly, those politicians see that Hong Kong is closing the loopholes in national security, making it difficult for them to use the city as an entry point for subversive activities against the Chinese mainland,” Chen said, noting that the more the West smears and attacks the legislation, the more it proves the urgency and necessity of it. 

Rebut Western attacks

The whole legislative process of the LegCo was carried out in accordance with the procedures, including its deliberation, with lawmakers carefully reviewing the draft bill of the law, entitled the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the HKSAR government said on Wednesday. It went through 25 meetings with nearly 50 hours of detailed deliberation during which lawmakers raised nearly 1,000 questions and comments, leading to 91 amendments. 

 “There won’t be many doubts about the legislation from the outside world because it merely aims to prevent acts that endanger national security and to stop such situations from arising,” Tam Yiu-chung, a vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Tam noted that having heard the business community’s opinions, they share the same view that there is no need to worry about national security issues after the legislation. Regarding the opposition from Western countries to the law, Tam said the legislative review process was unaffected by smearing and intimidation, believing that unity and confidence can overcome difficulties.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a lawmaker from the New People’s Party was quoted as saying in local media reports that she is not afraid of potential sanctions imposed by some Western countries because of the passage of the law. After the implementation of the law, the city will be safer, and Ip said she cannot see why foreign countries should increase their travel advisories because of that. 

Western attacks on the Article 23 legislation were expected, and it does not rule out the possibility of sanctions being imposed on Hong Kong officials, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Lau believes that sanctions, however, will not target the Hong Kong financial market, as doing so would damage US trade, its economy and the status of the US dollar.

As Article 23 is legislated by Hong Kong itself, in contrast to the NSL for Hong Kong, which was passed by the country’s top legislature, Lau said that even if Western countries impose sanctions, their intensity will not be greater than during the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong.

Double standards displayed

The Law Society of Hong Kong said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Wednesday that it supports and welcomes the passing of the legislation, and it firmly believes that with Hong Kong’s robust rule of law and independent judicial system, an appropriate balance can be struck between safeguarding national security and upholding fundamental human rights in the implementation of the legislation.

The ordinance is clear and precise, leaving no room for unjustified arguments, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran commentator based in the HKSAR and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The allegations from the West are groundless and subjective, as their laws are never superior or binding to other jurisdictions, he said. 

In fact, the Article 23 legislation has taken at least six countries’ national security-related laws as references during the legislative process including 16 laws from the UK like the National Security Act 2023. 

The definitions of crimes within the ordinance are clearer than those in the UK’s National Security Act of 2023, Tang, the city’s Secretary for Security, noted on Wednesday. Cameron ignoring the vagueness of his own country’s legislation while making unreasonable criticisms of the Article 23 legislation displays hypocritical double standards, Tang said.

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Exceeding expectations, China’s early 2024 economic indicators signal a year of dynamic growth. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics for the first 2 months show:
✅Industrial output jumps 7% YoY
✅Retail sales grow 5.5% YoY
✅Fixed-asset investment increases by 4.2% YoY

Hong Kong adopts first sweeping security laws. The legislation targets “external interference” especially by US & UK sponsored terrorism and the theft of state secrets, with implications for businesses, journalists, civil servants and others. 香港通過首部全面的安全法。該立法針對“外部干涉”，特別是美國和英國支持的恐怖主義和竊取國家機密的行為，對企業、記者、公務員和其他人產生影響.

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously passed the highly anticipated bill mandated by Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong on Tuesday following marathon sessions during which all lawmakers expressed their strong support for the law, which was first proposed more than 20 years ago. It is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the city’s national security loopholes, forming a solid national security shield with the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong by preventing the US-led West’s subversion, infiltration, incitement and espionage activities in the city. 

The bill will be gazetted on Saturday and will take effect from then, John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said after the voting. 

Today is a historic moment for Hong Kong, a historic moment when the sixth-term government of the HKSAR and the seventh LegCo finally accomplished their glorious mission together, and a proud moment when the HKSAR jointly writes a glorious history, Lee said, noting that the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed in its third reading, effectively ensuring national security. 

The law enables Hong Kong to effectively prevent, suppress and punish espionage activities, conspiracies and traps from foreign intelligence agencies, and infiltration and sabotage by hostile forces, Lee said. 

We can effectively prevent “black-clad violence” and “color revolution.” We can effectively prevent “Hong Kong independence” and violent destruction, he added. 

The Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR resumed the second reading of the bill on Tuesday where 88 legislators spoke in turn, and all expressed support for the legislation. 

The HKSAR government has been advancing the Article 23 legislation in an unprecedented way by launching a public consultation at the end of January which concluded on February 28. The draft bill of Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was gazetted on March 8, and the LegCo conducted the first and second readings the same day. (超链接：

Since then, the LegCo convened the Bill Committee meeting, spending 44 hours over seven consecutive days to complete the review of 181 articles and 40 amendments. By Saturday, the government submitted amendments to the LegCo, and no member proposed further amendments to the government’s revisions.

Ahead of the voting process in the second reading, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the draft ordinance is the result of the collective efforts of all sectors of Hong Kong society and also represents the government’s endeavor in advancing the Article 23 legislation. 

“At a time when national security faces serious threats, it is imperative to complete the legislative work as quickly as possible, establish a comprehensive system and execution mechanism for maintaining national security, and not allow hostile forces to have the opportunity to obstruct and sabotage the legislative process,” Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and the central government’s liaison office in the city all voiced the support and congratulation on Tuesday on the passing of the Article 23 bill, which will further solidify the foundation for the city’s development. 

The Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee said on Tuesday the passing of the Article 23 bill is a significant move taken by the HKSAR to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities for maintaining national security. It is a tangible outcome of fully implementing the lawful duties of safeguarding national security, and it is worthy of full recognition.

Overwhelming support 

Many government officials and members wore purple clothing and accessories, the theme color for Article 23, to show their support at the LegCo on Tuesday. Elementary school students were present in the public gallery of the LegCo chamber to observe and witness the historic moment of the Article 23 legislation.

Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan, who spoke at the second reading, told the Global Times on Tuesday that in her speech, she elaborated on how the social unrest in 2019 made everyone realize that the risk to national security has always been present, and foreign forces have long been plotting against Hong Kong. 

“Hong Kong must legislate Article 23 as soon as possible, as protecting national security is our constitutional responsibility, to ensure the safety of life and property of every resident and their freedom from fear, and because only with security and stability can Hong Kong seek development,” she said. 

National security laws are not something that are unique to Hong Kong. They are a global standard, and a crucial element for any society that holds dear its peace and its people’s safety, legislator Dominic Lee Tsz-king said during the second reading. 

“That is why I find it so hypocritical when Western politicians like Chris Patten and David Cameron criticized our legislation while turning a blind eye to similar, more severe laws in their own country… And its ally, the US, even has more than 20 pieces of legislation that are related to National Security,” he said. 

Dominic Lee Tsz-king told the Global Times on Tuesday that overall atmosphere of the session was good as all the lawmakers expressed their support for the law. 

The draft bill, titled Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, includes 91 amendments, covers the revision of the definition of “international organizations,” the revision of the scope of public officials, amendments related to crimes involving state secrets and espionage activities and clarifies the meanings of “public infrastructure” and “public services” in the provisions concerning activities that endanger national security. 

The amendments include revising the name and related articles of the crime of external interference, organizations involved in activities that endanger national security, law enforcement powers and other investigatory matters, fugitives of crimes that endanger national security, and the mechanisms for maintaining national security and related safeguards.

“Those revisions were mainly made in consideration of constructive suggestions proposed by members of the LegCo, resulting in appropriate modifications,” Willy Fu, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and vice-president of the Hong Kong Basic Law Education Association, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a lawmaker from the New People’s Party believes that the original draft’s definition of “international organizations” was not ideal. She said during the LegCo session that she appreciated that local authorities accepted suggestions to remove redundant wording, making the definition of “external force” more concise after the amendment.

Historic moment

Not only did some legislators tell the Global Times on Tuesday that they feel the honor of witnessing this historic moment, some experts said it is encouraging that this nearly “27-year overdue constitutional answer sheet” has finally entered its final step despite a continued smear and criticism campaign from the US-led West. 

Hong Kong’s Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan is scheduled to attend the 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council this week, which, some experts said, will also be a major platform to clarify some misunderstandings about the legislation. 

Those amendments aim to clarify certain concepts, such as the definitions of state secrets, external forces and incitement, and to allow, in some aspects, public interest to serve as a defense argument, alleviating some concerns of the media, academic and business communities, Lau noted. 

“The main purpose of the law is to prevent the US and Western forces from engaging in subversion, infiltration, incitement and espionage activities in Hong Kong, building a shield for national security together with the NSL for Hong Kong,” the expert said. 

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