26.05.2023
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly presented a new “Hong Kong Semi-Annual Report” to Congress, highlighting Beijing’s continued non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and calling on Beijing and Hong Kong to repeal the Hong Kong National Security Law. In response, the Hong Kong government rebutted strongly, urging Britain to stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs, which were “only China’s internal affairs.”
(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) On May 25, the British Foreign Office presented the “Hong Kong Half-Yearly Report” to Parliament on the implementation of the “Sino-British Joint Declaration” in Hong Kong from July 1 to December 31, 2022. Adherence to the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the continued erosion of Hong Kong’s civil and political rights and high degree of autonomy calls for Beijing and Hong Kong to repeal the Hong Kong National Security Law. The report notes that the rule of law in Hong Kong has been eroded, including the transfer of “powers that once belonged to the judiciary” to pro-China Hong Kong leaders. Lawyers must apply in advance and be approved by the chief executive to be eligible to take part in national security cases, and those facing national security charges cannot challenge government decisions in the court, among other things. The report also mentioned that the British side paid close attention to reviewing the political and judicial systems of the Hong Kong government, including the electoral reform of district councils, which significantly reduced the number of directly elected seats.
In the foreword to the report, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote that he was speaking at a United Nations hearing in February about how the Hong Kong authorities used the national security law to suppress opposition figures. Many of them were imprisoned or forced into exile. Qi Zhanming called on Beijing to implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council in an independent report last July, including the cancellation of the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020.
Qi Zhanming mentioned Li Zhiying’s case to Han Zheng
Qi Zhanming wrote: “Together with our partners, we condemn the continued erosion of (Hong Kong’s) civil and political rights.” The authorities “deliberately target democrats, journalists and prominent politicians in an attempt to silence and discredit them”. “Jimmy Lai, who is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom who is being held in custody, is such a figure,” added Qi Zhanming, 75, who founded the pro-democracy Apple Daily. The newspaper was raided and closed by the police in 2021.
Qi Zhanming said he raised Jimmy Lai’s case with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng this month. The report did not mention whether Qi Zhanming had contact with Han Zheng personally or through other channels. In early May, Han Zheng represented China at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
The Hong Kong government strongly refutes the UK’s “Hong Kong semi-annual report”.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a press release on May 25, expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Britain’s “Hong Kong Half-Yearly Report”. The announcement reads: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has today (May 25) strongly refuted the so-called “Hong Kong Semi-Annual Report: July-December 2022” (report) published by the United Kingdom on “one country, two systems” “Malicious slander and political attacks on Hong Kong under the successful practice, and expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. Hong Kong SAR is an inseparable part of the People’s Republic of China The SAR government once again strongly urges the UK to adhere to international law and the basic norms of international relations, and immediately stop interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong, which are only related to China’s internal affairs.”
According to the publication, the spokesperson of the SAR government emphasized that the improved electoral system provides legal protection for the full implementation of the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” and that it is a general political principle to ensure that power is in the hands . patriots The people will allow power to fall into the hands of those who are not patriotic or even betray their own country; national security is a central responsibility, and every country has the responsibility and right to maintain its national security, and the UK also has a large number of national security laws. The SAR government strongly opposes the UK’s repeated malicious slander of the “Hong Kong National Security Act” through the so-called report, unnecessarily interfering in the governance of Hong Kong in accordance with the law, and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong. that the business environment has improved has fallen on deaf ears.
The announcement also mentioned that the SAR government spokesperson reiterated that “Hong Kong residents enjoy the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other relevant laws.” However, the relevant rights and freedoms do not apply. absolute, and the exercise of relevant rights When used, it will be subject to the law and the requirements necessary to achieve a reasonable purpose, such as the protection of national security or public order.”
Relations between London and Beijing have been tense since Beijing implemented the national security law for Hong Kong. On May 9 this year, Dominic Johnson, Secretary of State for the British Ministry of Trade and Commerce, visited Hong Kong. This is the first time that the British Secretary of State has visited Hong Kong since the National Security Law for Hong Kong came into force. into force in 2018 and 2020.
(comprehensive report)
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