The White House called Wednesday for the immediate release by Chinese authorities of detained democracy advocates in Hong Kong, including Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen.
“Freedom of expression (is) critical to prosperous and secure societies,” principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
The United States calls on authorities in China and Hong Kong “to cease targeting Hong Kong’s advocates and to immediately release (those) who had been unjustly detained and charged, like the cardinal Joseph Zen,” she said.