Hong Kong
12 mars 2021
We, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, Canada, the United States of America, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the High Representative of the European Union, Let us together express our deep concern over China’s decision to fundamentally undermine the democratic characteristics of Hong Kong’s electoral system. This decision is a strong signal that the authorities of the People’s Republic of China are determined to silence dissenting voices and opinions in Hong Kong.
The series of changes approved by the National People’s Congress, which comes on top of the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists and politicians, calls into question Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy stemming from the “one country, two systems” principle . These changes will also undermine political pluralism, in contradiction with the objective of universal suffrage set out in the Basic Law. In addition, they will reduce freedom of expression which is a right guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The people of Hong Kong should be trusted to vote in the best interests of Hong Kong. It is by ensuring a debate between different opinions, and not by stifling them, that the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong will be ensured.
We call on China to act in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its other legal obligations, and to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong as provided for in the Basic Law. We also call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in Hong Kong’s political institutions and end the unjustified persecution of those who uphold democratic values and defend rights and freedoms.
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