Hong Kong youth representative voices support to national security legislation at UN session

GENEVA — A young NGO representative from Hong Kong on Friday condemned the violence and foreign interference in the Chinese city while voicing support to the national security legislation for Hong Kong during the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Lam Lam Nixie, from the United Nations Association of China, told the council through video link that under the Basic Law, Hong Kong is a region of China with a high degree of autonomy.

Hong Kong was once taken away from China by force and violence, suffered colonization, and then saw China's resumption of sovereignty over it in 1997, which should be celebrated, she said.

Noting that violence and invasion can never be the answer, Lam told the council that the year 2019 is a heart-breaking one for Hong Kong, because the city was turned into a "Gotham City" overnight.

Foreign media and politicians attempted to legitimize violence in Hong Kong and the intimidation of people with different views were widespread. "Youngsters were taught that it's OK to throw petrol bombs around the town because they are freedom fighters and the bombs are only 'fire magic,'" she said.

"We've had enough," she stressed, adding that 2.9 million Hong Kong residents signed a petition in June to support the national security legislation for Hong Kong enacted by the central government.

"We need to restore our city. We've seen it once, so we cannot risk seeing Hong Kong taken away twice by violence. Colonialism is outdated, and the same with violence. Get your hands off the city we call home," she said.