China: US using ‘gangster logic’ in Hong Kong response

China accused the U.S. of using “gangster logic” on Wednesday after President Trump directed an end to Hong Kong’s special economic treatment due to China’s national security law.

China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong warned that the U.S.’s actions would hurt American interests and not have much effect on Hong Kong, Reuters reported. 

“Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats by the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behaviour,” the office said in a Wednesday statement.

China has threatened retaliation, and Hong Kong’s government said it would agree with any Chinese decision for punishment.

“It is hypocritical for the U.S. to introduce measures to attack China by creating issues in [Hong Kong] under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy out of its own political considerations,” a government statement said.

China imposed a national security law weeks earlier, punishing what its officials define as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers with up to life in prison, according to Reuters. 

International critics of the law say it violates the “one state, two systems” agreement that China approved when accepting the city from British control in 1997.

Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong residents voted in the city’s pro-democracy primaries over the weekend, symbolizing a protest against the new law. Chinese officials cautioned that the primaries themselves could be seen as a violation of the national security law, prompting some organizers to withdraw.

Trump’s executive order ending special economic status for Hong Kong allows him to institute sanctions and visa restrictions against Chinese officials and financial institutions involved in the national security law crackdown.

A pro-establishment protest also broke out at the U.S. Consulate on Thursday, with demonstrators requesting the U.S. “stop interfering in Chinese affairs,” Reuters reported.