U.S. Hong Kong bill only to further inflame violence

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate passed a Hong Kong-related bill on Tuesday, trying to whitewash rioters' atrocities and further pile up pressure on the Chinese government, a move that will only inflame more violence in the already distorted cosmopolitan city.

The Senate's passage of the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 is nothing but a blatant interference in China's domestic affairs and once again unveils Washington's ill-intentioned motive against China.

Gripped by more than five months of violence and criminal activities, Hong Kong has been thrust ever closer towards the abyss of chaos. Rampant vandalism and arson have ruined the rule of law in the metropolis, leaving ordinary Hong Kong residents increasingly concerned about their personal safety.

The so-called human rights or democracy issue in Hong Kong is a pseudo-proposition. What the city needs most at the moment is to end violence and restore order as soon as possible.

But some U.S. legislators and politicians have chosen to turn a blind eye to the havoc wreaked by the rioters and continue to side with those extremists. What they truly want from meddling in the Hong Kong situation is to appear tough on China so as to serve their political self-interests and to make trouble for Beijing.

However, America's own interests are also at stake. The United States has significant interests in Hong Kong, an international financial hub. Presently, there are some 80,000 residing U.S. citizens and over 1,300 companies in Hong Kong. The more chaotic Hong Kong becomes, the heavier losses those U.S. businesses will suffer.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and allow no interference by any external force. The Chinese government has made it abundantly clear that it will take strong countermeasures in response to America's intervention and resolutely safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development rights.

Hong Kong residents' legitimate rights and freedoms are actually compromised by the continuous violence. So the first step is to bring order back to the city. The U.S. meddlesome bill will in no way work toward that goal.