The United Kingdom says that the introduction of the new Chinese security law violates the agreements made on Hong Kong. “It is a clear violation of Hong Kong’s autonomy and a direct threat to the freedoms of its residents,” Secretary of State Dominic Raab said on Wednesday.
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Raab said that the contents of the new national security laws were “carefully” examined and “clearly constituted a serious violation” of the 1984 agreements. Then London and Beijing signed an agreement on the transfer of the British crown colony to China. It finally took place in 1997.
At the time, China promised that Hong Kong would have special status within the Communist People’s Republic for another 50 years. The metropolis has its own legal system, but this is undermined by critics by the new national security law.
The United Kingdom ruled Hong Kong for more than 150 years, until the area was transferred to China. Minister Raab said he will later announce how his government and its international partners will respond to the introduction of China’s security law.
Facilitate immigration
Boris Johnson also announced on Wednesday that it will expand immigration rights and facilitate access to UK citizenship for Hong Kong residents with a special passport.
“We have made it clear that if China continues to follow this path, we will introduce a new route for those (in Hong Kong) of British nationality to enter the UK, making them eligible for citizenship, and that is exactly what we will do now. “
At least 180 people were arrested on Wednesday, including seven for violating the new security law. Meanwhile, China has parried international criticism of that law, “It’s not your business.”
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