Condemn China's imposition of national security legislation on Hong Kong: US
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Foreign ministers of Britain, Australia and Canada said they were 'deeply concerned' over the proposal while asserting that it would undermine the principle of 'one country, two systems'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today condemned China's proposed national security law to be imposed on Hong Kong.
"The United States condemns the PRC proposal to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong and strongly urges Beijing to reconsider. We stand with the people of Hong Kong."
The United States condemns the PRC proposal to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong and strongly urges Beijing to reconsider. We stand with the people of Hong Kong.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 22, 2020
"The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under US law," Pompeo said
The European Union called for "the preservation of Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy" even as foreign ministers of Britain, Australia and Canada said they were "deeply concerned" over the proposal, while asserting that it would undermine the principle of "one country, two systems".
"Making such a law on Hong Kong's behalf without the direct participation of its people, legislature or judiciary would clearly undermine the principle of 'one country, two systems', under which Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy," it said.
Hong Kong's leader who was present during the leglisture meeting when the annoucement was made vowed to fully cooperate" with Beijing over the national security proposal and complete the legislation "as soon as possible" even as pro-democracy protesters to go back on the street against the proposed law.
"The Hong Kong government will "complete the legislation as soon as possible to discharge its responsibility of safeguarding national security," Carrie Lam said.
Pompeo said said earlier that the bill was a "death knell for the high degree of autonomy Beijing promised for Hong Kong".
According to the proposed law, Article 23 of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, says the city must enact national security legislation to prohibit "treason, secession, sedition (and) subversion" against the Chinese government.
Hong Kong citizens had engaged in months of agitation last year in often violent demonstrations against China demanding greater accountablitity and transparency as Lam tried to calm the city.