Hong Kong government ‘strongly’ objects to US report critical of Beijing
January 16, 2021, 11:34 am

Hong Kong government ‘strongly’ objects to US report critical of Beijing

A man wearing a protective face mask takes a photo of the sunset at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront as skyline buildings stand across Victoria Harbor following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Hong Kong. (File photo: Reuters)

The Hong Kong government said it “strongly” objects to a US congressional report critical of Beijing’s handling of the city, calling the report “biased, politically motivated and not reflecting the truth”.

“Safeguarding national security through legislation is in line with international practice,” the government of the financial hub said in a statement late on Friday.

The annual report from the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China this week said that the “one country, two systems” framework in Hong Kong has been “dismantled”, severely undermining the rule of law and respect for human rights that the city has long enjoyed.

The report says a national security law that Beijing imposed over the summer on the former British colony directly threatens Hong Kong residents’ right to due process and their freedoms of expression and association. “The legislation is clearly meant to target, intimidate, and silence Hong Kong’s robust civil society,” it says.

Hong Kong countered that contrary to the erroneous allegations that the law undermines the “one country, two systems” framework, China “has the right to legislate for this matter” under the framework.

source: Reuters

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”