Britain will not stray from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law that would conflict with its international obligations under a 1984 agreement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.
The UK has urged China to withdraw from Hong Kong’s national security legislation, which it says risks destroying one of the gems of the Asian economy while ruining China’s reputation.
“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London. “If China proceeds, it would be in direct conflict with its obligations under the joint declaration, a legally binding treaty registered with the United Nations.
“Many people in Hong Kong fear that their way of life – which China is committed to respecting – will be threatened,” said Johnson.
The Chinese parliament last week approved a decision to create laws for Hong Kong to limit sedition, secession, terrorism and foreign interference. Security and intelligence officers from the mainland may, for the first time, be stationed in the city.
“If China proceeds to justify its fears, then Britain cannot conscientiously shrug and move away; instead, we will live up to our obligations and provide an alternative,” said Johnson.
Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule – imposed after Britain defeated China in the First Opium War.
China scolds the UK
China has said that its national security decisions in Hong Kong are its own business and that Britain’s connection to the territory comes from “aggressive colonization and unequal treaties”.
“The irresponsible remarks and accusations by the United Kingdom (…) have seriously disrupted China’s internal affairs, including the affairs of Hong Kong,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. . “We advise the British side to step back.”
“The United Kingdom has said that the legislation is authoritarian, but that word is the exact characterization of the former British government on HK,” said the spokesman.
Johnson reiterated Britain’s commitment to give British national passport holders abroad in Hong Kong a path to British citizenship, allowing them to settle in the United Kingdom.
There are around 350,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong and an additional 2.5 million are eligible for them, said Johnson.
Hong Kong Democrat activist Joshua Wong called on the UK to go further and impose sanctions on China.
“I call on the British government to impose the necessary sanctions and restrictive measures,” said Wong.
Hong Kong activists plan to assemble to mark the anniversary of June 4, 1989 of Chinese troops firing on pro-democracy student protesters on and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, even if for the first time, an annual vigil for the anniversary was canceled due to concerns regarding contagion of coronavirus.
Demonstrations are also planned for the June 9 anniversary of the march of a million people last year against a Hong Kong bill now withdrawn to allow the extradition of violators to mainland China, as well as protests three days later that the police tackled with tear gas and rubber. bullets.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
