HK government decries UK 'interference'

HK government decries UK 'interference'

HONG KONG: The government of Hong Kong on Friday dismissed a British Foreign Office report that political rights and freedoms in the territory are under pressure, calling it interference in its internal affairs.

“Foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of (Hong Kong),” the government said in a statement issued in response to the 43rd “Six-Monthly Report on Hong Kong”, which covers events in first half of the year.

The report, issued on Thursday, says the “one country, two systems” arrangement that has been in effect in the former British colony for over two decades “generally continues to function well”.

However, “continued pressure on Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and on rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law gives cause for concern,” it says, referring to the mini-constitution in effect since the territory was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Under the terms of the handover agreement, Hong Kong was promised autonomy in all domestic affairs except national security and diplomacy.

Among the worrisome developments, the report notes that in January, Hong Kong election officials barred three prospective candidates from competing in by-elections to fill four of the six seats vacated by legislators elected in 2016 and subsequently disqualified.

Their prospective candidacies were declared invalid on the basis that their political views called into question their intention to uphold the Basic Law.

The disqualification of one of them, Agnes Chow of the pro-democracy party Demosisto that advocates self-determination for Hong Kong, prompted a message of concern from the British government, which argued that the right to stand for election is a “fundamental right” enshrined in the Basic Law.

“Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and its rights and freedoms, are central to its way of life, and it is important that they should be fully respected,” it said.

The report also expresses “growing concern about the extent of freedom of speech in Hong Kong, particularly in the context of discussion of independence.”

“The right of freedom of expression, freedom of speech and academic freedom are guaranteed by the (Sino-British) Joint Declaration and enshrined in the Basic Law,” it says.

Hong Kong authorities, however, associate calls for self-determination with independence advocacy, which is not to be tolerated. The government’s statement says proponents of self-determination or independence “cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law”.

As another example of continued pressure on Hong Kong’s autonomy, the British report mentions the establishment of a designated area at the West Kowloon terminal that will be subject to the jurisdiction and laws of mainland China.

At a facility there, both local and mainland authorities will together carry out immigration and customs procedures for the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which is scheduled to begin service later this month.

Critics, including the Hong Kong Bar Association, say the planned arrangement lacks legal base and infringes the Basic Law.

In its statement, the government insisted otherwise. It urged “different sectors of the community to understand the co-location arrangement in an objective, pragmatic and all-round manner”.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also dismissed the British report and said Hong Kong people’s basic rights and freedoms are enshrined in China’s constitution and the Basic Law.

“Britain’s self-assumed role of being a supervisor and gossiping over Hong Kong affairs is ridiculous, and not acceptable to China,” ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

“China has repeatedly stressed that Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs not to be interfered by any foreign country. Britain’s so-called ‘responsibility to Hong Kong’ does not exist,” she said.

“We express strong dismay and resolute opposition to the British government’s presumptuous comments on Hong Kong affairs by regularly issuing the so-called Six-Monthly Report on Hong Kong and we demand the British side face the facts and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs,” she said.

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