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Hong Kong’s global reputation weakened by Legislative Council elections move, European Union says
- EU issues statement saying Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s decision to postpone vote for a year harms city’s standing as ‘free and open society’
- Move also calls into question ‘rights and freedoms guaranteed under Basic Law’
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The European Union has added its voice to those expressing concern over the delay to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council elections.
On Tuesday, the EU said the year-long postponement could affect democratic rights, and the disqualification of opposition candidates had weakened the city’s reputation as a free society.
This came two days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the postponement a “regrettable decision”, while British officials described the ban on candidates as undermining the high degree of autonomy the city was guaranteed after its return to China in 1997.
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“The proposed postponement by one year of the elections to the Legislative Council through recourse to emergency powers, would delay the renewal of its democratic mandate and call into question the exercise of the democratic rights and freedoms guaranteed under Hong Kong’s Basic Law,” the EU said in a statement.
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Hong Kong Legislative Council elections postponed by a year
Hong Kong Legislative Council elections postponed by a year
“The recent disqualification of pro-democracy candidates, including sitting lawmakers previously democratically elected by the people of Hong Kong, also weakens Hong Kong’s international reputation as a free and open society.
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“The protection of civil and political rights in Hong Kong is a fundamental part of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, which the EU supports.”
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