More than 1 million protest in Hong Kong, organizers say, over Chinese extradition law

China defying Hong Kong joint treaty: U.K.​

China is no longer compliant with Hong Kong’s joint declaration after Beijing announced sweeping changes to the region’s electoral system, Britain said on Saturday.

“The U.K. now considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The treaty was signed before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and was designed to allay fears about its future under Beijing’s rule.

It guarantees the financial hub special status including a high degree of autonomy to manage its own affairs and the right to freedom of speech.

Stifling criticism​

But British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Beijing’s decision “to impose radical changes to restrict participation in Hong Kong’s electoral system” was a “further clear breach” of the agreement.

“This is part of a pattern designed to harass and stifle all voices critical of China’s policies and is the third breach of the Joint Declaration in less than nine months,” he said.

“I must now report that the U.K. considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration,” he added, further ramping up tensions between the two nations.

Britain has been a strong critic of China’s crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong, and angered Beijing by announcing a visa scheme offering millions of its residents a pathway to U.K.’s citizenship.

The system went live in January as the city’s former colonial master opened its doors to those wanting to escape China’s crackdown on dissent.

‘Growing gulf’​

Beijing has acted decisively to dismantle Hong Kong’s democratic pillars after massive protests there in 2019.
China’s rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday voted to give Beijing the power to veto candidates as it moves to ensure that only “patriots” run the city.

Mr. Raab said the latest move was a “demonstration of the growing gulf between Beijing’s promises and its actions. “The U.K. will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong,” he added.

“China must act in accordance with its legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.”

The new election rules sparked international condemnation.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called it “a direct attack on autonomy promised to people in Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration”.

“These actions deny Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance by limiting political participation, reducing democratic representation and stifling political debate,” Mr. Blinken said.

The European Union warned China it could take “additional steps” as it condemned the vote.

“The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China adopted today a decision that will have a significant impact on democratic accountability and political pluralism in Hong Kong,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.
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China defying Hong Kong joint treaty: U.K.

It is imposing radical changes to the city’s electoral system, clearly breaching 1997 declaration: Raab
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I still remember when Hong Kong was in British rule and I was next doors in Guangzhu China. The Chinese government used to arrange "Familiarisation" trips for Hong-Kong residents to visit China on day trips, fully paid by Chinese government.
It used to be funny to see Hong-Kong people walking around looking all sophisticated and taking pictures of Chinese, looking down at them, behaving all snobbish.
 
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