We the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United
States Secretary of State, reiterate our serious
concern regarding China’s imposition of new rules to
disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong.
Following the imposition of the National Security Law
and postponement of September’s Legislative Council
elections, this decision further undermines Hong
Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and
freedoms.
China’s action is a clear breach of its international
obligations under the legally binding, UN-registered
Sino-British Joint Declaration. It breaches both
China’s commitment that Hong Kong will enjoy a ‘high
degree of autonomy’, and the right to freedom of
speech.
The disqualification rules appear part of a concerted
campaign to silence all critical voices following the
postponement of September’s Legislative Council
elections, the imposition of charges against a number
of elected legislators, and actions to undermine the
freedom of Hong Kong’s vibrant media.
We call on China to stop undermining the rights of
the people of Hong Kong to elect their
representatives in keeping with the Joint Declaration
and Basic Law. For the sake of Hong Kong’s stability
and prosperity, it is essential that China and the
Hong Kong authorities respect the channels for the
people of Hong Kong to express their legitimate
concerns and opinions.
As a leading member of the international community,
we expect China to live up to its international
commitments and its duty to the people of Hong Kong.
We urge the Chinese central authorities to
re-consider their actions against Hong Kong’s elected
legislature and immediately reinstate the Legislative
Council members.
