More than 200 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries condemn Beijing’s proposed national security law for Hong Kong
- Joint statement hits out at Beijing for ‘unilateral introduction’ of the law and says the ‘integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread’
- Among the signatories are Hong Kong’s last colonial governor Chris Patten, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind and US Senator Ted Cruz
More than 200 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries have issued a joint statement condemning Beijing’s move to introduce a national security law for Hong Kong and calling for governments to raise a voice against it.
They expressed concerns over Beijing’s resolution at the opening of its annual legislative sessions on Friday to “prevent, frustrate and punish” threats to national security by outlawing acts of secession, subversion and terrorism in Hong Kong.
The proposed law will bypass the city’s legislature. It will require the Hong Kong government to set up new institutions to safeguard Chinese sovereignty and allow the mainland’s agencies to operate in the city when needed.
The proposed law has sparked a debate over the fate of the “one country, two systems” blueprint that has guided Hong Kong since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
The signatories were led by Hong Kong’s last colonial governor Chris Patten, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind, US senators Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio, 12 US congressmen, dozens of British MPs, as well as parliamentarians from Europe, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea as well as Malaysia.
In the statement, they expressed their grave concerns about the “unilateral introduction of national security legislation” by Beijing in Hong Kong.
“This is a comprehensive assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. The integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread,” they wrote.
