Downing Street today warned that China must respect Hong Kong’s “rights and freedoms” as the communist state moves to impose a controversial security law.
China's ruling Communist Party wants to clamp down on dissent in Hong Kong by introducing a national security law.
Pro-democracy activists say the move to ban "treason, secession, sedition and subversion" will destroy Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous region which has had a "one country, two systems" policy since Britain handed it to Chinese rule in 1997.
In a strongly worded statement, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said today: “We are monitoring the situation closely. We expect China to respect Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy.
“As a party to the joint declaration, the UK is committed to upholding Hong Kong’s autonomy and respecting the one country two systems model.”
Asked if the proposed law met the one country two system principle, he replied: “We are monitoring this closely and our immediate priority is to clarify the details of what is being suggested.”
Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat MP tweeted earlier today: “Reports that the US is going to remove Hong Kong's status as a separate jurisdiction to China should come as no surprise.
“Beijing is killing the one Country, two Systems model followed by all Xi's predecessors. He's turning his back on the past.”
