The European Union (EU) has condemned China’s Hong Kong national security law, and European Commission (EC) President Urzula von der Leiena has said the EC is seriously concerned.
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The EC also believes that this law is contrary to China’s international obligations, Leiena said. “We have made it clear on several occasions, including last week, in direct contact with Chinese leaders that the new law is not in line with Hong Kong’s constitution or China’s international obligations,” Leiena said. “We are seriously worried about that,” she added.
European Council President Charles Michel also condemned China’s move. He said the law threatened to severely curtail Hong Kong’s autonomy and harm the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
Hong Kong media reported Tuesday that China had passed the Hong Kong National Security Act, whose critics feared it would introduce widespread political repression in the autonomous region.
Beijing has stated that the new law will ban disruptive practices, secession, terrorism and covert cooperation with foreign forces, and that this is necessary to restore stability in Hong Kong following protests by pro-democracy activists.
Its opponents fear that the law will destroy Hong Kong’s political freedoms and reduce its autonomy, given that similar laws have been used to suppress protests in mainland China.
Beijing has bypassed the Hong Kong legislature to pass the law. It was adopted six weeks after the first announcement. Hong Kong’s 7.5 million people have not yet seen the content of this law. It is expected to take effect on Wednesday.
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