Hong Kong on Europe’s agenda after summer of discontent

European politicians are expected to raise concerns about the use of police force against protesters in Hong Kong as parliaments reconvene after the summer break.

But governments will have to balance the popular support for protesters at home with the risk of diplomatic retaliation from Beijing, according to diplomatic observers.

European diplomats in Beijing said European officials had been watching the protests closely over the summer and administrations would be under public pressure to defend peaceful demonstrations on human rights grounds.

“We are spending more and more of our time monitoring what is happening in Hong Kong,” one European diplomat said. “I expect some of them to bring it to the table when parliament is back in session.”

Earlier this month, Danish opposition politician Rasmus Nordqvist called on the Danish foreign ministry to clarify whether the government supported protesters’ demands to formally withdraw the now-shelved extradition bill, and for an independent investigation into allegations of police violence.