Beijing's top official overseeing SAR affairs on Tuesday slammed the United States for imposing heavy tariffs on Hong Kong, calling the move "extremely arrogant and shameless".

Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said in a video address that the up to 145 percent US tariffs on SAR goods showed "the US isn't after our tariffs – it is after our very survival".

Addressing the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Day, Xia said the US levies were particularly unreasonable given the SAR is a free port with no tariffs.

"This makes it clearer to the world that the US cannot tolerate Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and it is the biggest 'sinister manipulator' undermining human rights, freedom, the rule of law, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong," he said.

Xia said the US has continued its suppression and containment of the SAR time and time again, adding that these actions will ultimately backfire.

"Let those American peasants wail before the 5,000-year-old civilisation of the Chinese nation! History and reality tell us that the Chinese people will never accept bullying and all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, cannot be intimidated or overwhelmed," he said.

"The Chinese have a proverb – strike a punch to avoid a hundred punches... Whether it is a tariff war, trade war, or any other kind of war, we have nothing to fear. The sky will not fall," Xia added.

The Beijing official also criticised the US for sanctioning six mainland and Hong Kong officials, accusing it of fabricating the so-called 2025 Hong Kong Policy Act Report, "once again exposing US' bullying and hegemonic true colours and its ugly face of hysteria born of desperation".

And while Hong Kong appears calm on the surface, Xia warned of underlying security concerns and stressed that the struggle is not over.

"Those who are opposed to China and attempt to destabilise Hong Kong have not yet been eliminated... Many people still have confused ideas, some sympathise with those who are opposed to China and attempt to destabilise Hong Kong, some justify them, and some admire, fear, worship or fantasise about the US."

He expressed confidence in Hong Kong's business sector despite US pressure on China, saying that enterprises will continue to thrive with the city's unique advantages and strong backing from the nation.
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Last updated: 2025-04-15 HKT 12:50