Hong Kong witnessed massive pro-democracy protests in 2019 (File)
Washington:
The Group of Seven Foreign Ministers on Wednesday urged China to reconsider its security bill for Hong Kong in a statement amid US-China talks.
“We urge the Chinese government to reconsider this decision,” G7 ministers said in a statement shortly before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began talks with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi in Hawaii.
They said they had “grave concerns” about the law China promised to draft for Hong Kong, to which Beijing had promised autonomy before Britain ceded the financial center in 1997 .
The security law would prohibit subversion and other perceived crimes in the city, which last year saw major demonstrations in support of democracy.
“China’s decision is not in accordance with the Basic Law of Hong Kong and its international commitments under the principles of the Sino-British Joint Declaration legally binding and registered with the United Nations,” said the joint statement.
“We are also extremely concerned that this action would restrict and threaten the fundamental rights and freedoms of the entire population protected by the rule of law and the existence of an independent justice system,” he said. .
The G7 includes Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
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