James Pomfret

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – The Hong Kong government has criticised Washington’s “safe haven” scheme that allows Hong Kongers to work and stay in America amid Beijing’s crackdown against the pro-democracy movement within the Chinese territory.

U.S. President Joe Biden declared a temporary safe harbor scheme for Hong Kong residents in August. It allowed what could have been thousands of people to prolong their stay as a response to the crackdown.

Biden said that the plan was motivated by foreign policy, in light of China’s continuing “assault” on Hong Kong’s autonomy.

The Department of Homeland Security released details of the program Wednesday. This helped to formalize eligibility for Hong Kongers who travel on different documents in order to live and work in the United States up to 18 months.

According to a Hong Kong spokesperson, the act was characterized as “blatant interference” with Hong Kong affairs.

According to the statement, governments that encourage or harbor fugitive offenders in their countries want only to disregard the rule and be exposed for their hypocrisy.

In 1997, the former British colony was returned to Chinese control with promises of broad-ranging freedoms.

However, since China’s implementation of the national security law last year, authorities have taken a more authoritarian approach to the city, with many arrests and restrictions on freedom speech.

Hong Kong officials and Chinese authorities insist that the city has a great deal of autonomy. But certain rights do not apply.

Brian Leung of Washington D.C.’s Hong Kong Democracy Council welcomed the inclusion of this scheme and said it would provide stability for those who are politically marginalized in the city.

Sunny Cheung was a witness at the U.S. Congress hearing. She spoke out about the brutality that saw many of his activists imprisoned and drove him to exile.

Cheung stated that although this was a significant step forward it should not be the final.