LONDON: Britain's government is deeply concerned about China's legislation on national security for Hong Kong, which risks undermining the principle of one country, two systems, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (May 28).
"We are deeply concerned about China's legislation relating to national security … We have been very clear that the security legislation risks undermining the principle of one nation, two systems," the spokesman said, adding that foreign minister Dominic Raab spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on Wednesday.
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"The steps taken by the Chinese government place the joint declaration under direct threat," he added, referring to the 1984 agreement between the UK and China that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy would remain unchanged for 50 years.
READ: Hong Kong loses US 'special status' – what next?
READ: Riot police deployed across Hong Kong as US-China tensions rise
Seperately, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada issued a joint statement admonishing the move.
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"Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of freedom," the countries said, adding their "deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose a national security law in Hong Kong."
They said the new legislation would "curtail the Hong Kong people's liberties, and in doing so, dramatically erode Hong Kong's autonomy and the system that made it so prosperous."
"We are also extremely concerned that this action will exacerbate the existing deep divisions in Hong Kong society," they said in the joint statement.
"We call on the Government of China to work with the Hong Kong SAR Government and the people of Hong Kong to find a mutually acceptable accommodation that will honour China's international obligations under the UN-filed Sino-British Joint Declaration," the UK-US-Canadian-Austrian statement said.
China's parliament earlier on Thursday approved a decision to go forward with the legislation which Beijing said is aimed at tackling secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong.
The plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months.
On Sunday, police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters, evoking memories of violent anti-government protests that paralysed parts of the city last year.
Riot police were deployed in response to more protests this week, as Hong Kong legislators debated another piRead More – Source
LONDON: Britain's government is deeply concerned about China's legislation on national security for Hong Kong, which risks undermining the principle of one country, two systems, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (May 28).
"We are deeply concerned about China's legislation relating to national security … We have been very clear that the security legislation risks undermining the principle of one nation, two systems," the spokesman said, adding that foreign minister Dominic Raab spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"The steps taken by the Chinese government place the joint declaration under direct threat," he added, referring to the 1984 agreement between the UK and China that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy would remain unchanged for 50 years.
READ: Hong Kong loses US 'special status' – what next?
READ: Riot police deployed across Hong Kong as US-China tensions rise
Seperately, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada issued a joint statement admonishing the move.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of freedom," the countries said, adding their "deep concern regarding Beijing's decision to impose a national security law in Hong Kong."
They said the new legislation would "curtail the Hong Kong people's liberties, and in doing so, dramatically erode Hong Kong's autonomy and the system that made it so prosperous."
"We are also extremely concerned that this action will exacerbate the existing deep divisions in Hong Kong society," they said in the joint statement.
"We call on the Government of China to work with the Hong Kong SAR Government and the people of Hong Kong to find a mutually acceptable accommodation that will honour China's international obligations under the UN-filed Sino-British Joint Declaration," the UK-US-Canadian-Austrian statement said.
China's parliament earlier on Thursday approved a decision to go forward with the legislation which Beijing said is aimed at tackling secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong.
The plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, triggered the first big protests in Hong Kong for months.
On Sunday, police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters, evoking memories of violent anti-government protests that paralysed parts of the city last year.
Riot police were deployed in response to more protests this week, as Hong Kong legislators debated another piRead More – Source
