Hong Kong rocked by huge democracy protests last year (File)
London:
China’s plan to impose a new security law on Hong Kong is in direct violation of its international commitments, Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia said on Thursday.
“China’s decision to impose the new national security law on Hong Kong is in direct conflict with its international obligations under the principles of the Sino-British legally binding joint declaration registered with the United Nations,” said the four. allies in a joint communiqué.
“The bill would undermine the One country, two systems framework,” they added, referring to the special status of Hong Kong in China under its transfer from Britain in 1997.
The conviction came after Chinese law approved a law originally proposed by the National People’s Congress after huge protests for democracy rocked the financial center for seven months last year.
The United States took the dramatic decision to revoke the special status granted to Hong Kong in response, paving the way for the removal of commercial and economic privileges from the territory.
The four nations said they were “extremely concerned that this action would worsen the deep divisions that exist in Hong Kong society; the law does nothing to strengthen mutual understanding and promote reconciliation in Hong Kong”.
Their statement added, “Concentrating the world on a global pandemic requires increased confidence in governments and international cooperation. Beijing’s unprecedented decision may have the opposite effect.”
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab later told reporters that the United Kingdom would change its rules on the rights of “British National Overseas” (BNO) passport holders if China passed the new law.
Before Britain returned the city to China in 1997, it offered Hong Kongers special BNO status to calm those worried about their future under the reign of Beijing.
Holders can currently enter Britain without a visa and stay there for up to six months, as well as receiving consular assistance abroad.
But they are not allowed to live in the UK.
Raab said it could be changed to allow for 12-month extendable periods, adding “it would itself provide a path to future citizenship.”
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
