The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses “a certain amount of challenges” to Hong Kong’s development, Beijing’s top envoy in the city has said, while urging youngsters to embrace patriotism.
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Cui Jianchun, the commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, said on Saturday that some “large countries” were obsessed with putting themselves first, imposing unilateral sanctions and threatening the use of tariffs.
“Hong Kong is currently in a new stage of going from stability to prosperity, where there are infinite opportunities. At the same time, the world is facing major changes not seen in a century,” he said at the Hong Kong Cup Diplomatic Knowledge Contest.
“Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, which brings a certain amount of challenges to Hong Kong’s development.”
Cui urged the city’s youth to “take up responsibility for their home soil” amid the “current situation”.
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“They should also have a sense of home and country so they can find their way among the changes happening in the world,” he said.
Hong Kong has been caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions, with the city feeling the effects of many of the measures imposed by US President Donald Trump in his tariff war with Beijing.