Hong Kong national security law: EU plans ‘comprehensive and coordinated’ response over legislation, foreign affairs chief says

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell says the challenges Hong Kong faces have significantly mounted this year

He warns EU will ‘not stand back and watch as China attempts to curtail Hong Kong’s freedoms even more’ with imposition of new law

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Hong Kong experienced months of anti-government protests last year. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 1:02am, 23 Jul 2020Updated: 11:45am, 23 Jul 2020

The European Union is working on a “comprehensive and coordinated” response to Beijing’s imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong, its foreign affairs chief said, while an annual EU report has highlighted growing concerns over the city’s autonomy.

The 2019 report on Hong Kong, released on Wednesday, cited as examples democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung being banned from standing for district council elections, and Beijing’s criticisms of a High Court ruling last November on the unconstitutionality of an anti-mask law.

“The annual report takes stock of the serious challenges to Hong Kong’s autonomy, stability and guaranteed freedoms in 2019. These challenges have significantly mounted in 2020,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.

“As the European Union, we will not simply stand back and watch as China attempts to curtail these freedoms even more, with its imposition of the draconian national security law. We are working on a comprehensive and coordinated EU response.”

Josep Borrell says it is in the whole world’s interest that Hong Kong thrives. Photo: AP

Borrell’s statement did not mention what the EU response might entail.