US, UK and European officials call for China to honour Hong Kong commitments on handover anniversary
- Beijing has fallen short in upholding ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement agreed in Sino-British Joint Declaration, says British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
- National security law set stage for erosion of autonomy and dismantling of Hong Kong residents’ rights and freedoms, adds US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
American, British and European officials called on Beijing to honour its commitments to provide a “high degree of autonomy” to Hong Kong and uphold protected freedoms in the city on the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese control.
“We simply cannot avoid the fact that, for some time now, Beijing has been failing to comply with its obligations,” Johnson said in a video message posted on Thursday evening. “It’s a state of affairs that threatens both the rights and freedoms of Hongkongers and the continued progress and prosperity of their home.”
The British government has said for several years that China is not compliant with the Joint Declaration, which guaranteed “a high degree of autonomy” for the city for 50 years, except when it comes to defence or foreign affairs.
Nabila Massrali, the EU’s foreign policy spokeswoman, tweeted that the EU “reiterates its concerns at the removal of fundamental freedoms previously enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong”.
European lawmakers also voiced criticisms.
“When Hong Kong rejoined China 25 years ago, after having been a British colony for a long time, this political experiment was accompanied by many hopes,” said Reinhard Bütikofer, chair of the European Parliament’s China delegation. “Hong Kong was assured to be able to retain its lifestyle, its economic order, and its freedoms without restrictions for 50 years under Chinese sovereignty; it was even promised a democratic development.
Frank Müller-Rosentritt, a member of the German Bundestag and a member of the foreign affairs committee, said the Chinese government needed to be “held accountable”.
“What is happening in Hong Kong represents a dangerous trend, for in the last two decades authoritarian rulers have far too often been allowed to have their crimes go unpunished,” he said.
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In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the upcoming anniversary had been envisioned as the “halfway point of 50 years of promised autonomy,” as guaranteed under the Joint Declaration.
“Yet it is now evident that Hong Kong and Beijing authorities no longer view democratic participation, fundamental freedoms, and an independent media as part of this vision,” said Blinken.
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“We stand in solidarity with people in Hong Kong and reinforce their calls for their promised freedoms to be reinstated,” said Blinken.
Additional reporting by Finbarr Bermingham and Owen Churchill