The Fourth Session of the 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (NPC) adopted the Decision of the National People’s Congress on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “Decision”) on March 11 by a vote of 2,895 to 0, with 1 abstention. In response, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries, as well as the European Union and other international community forces, responded one after another.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said through a statement Thursday that “this is the latest move by Beijing to hollow out the space for democratic debate in Hong Kong, in violation of China’s own commitments.” He said, “This will only further erode confidence and trust in China’s ability to meet its international responsibilities and legal obligations as a leading member of the international community.” In addition, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EC Vice-President Josep Borrell issued a statement saying, “The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China has today adopted a decision that will have a significant impact on democratic accountability and political pluralism in Hong Kong.”
Borrell said, “The decision will result in the concentration of power and influence in Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Election Committee, which is not a democratically chosen body. The decision will result in a reduction in the proportion of directly elected representatives in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. It would also reduce the ability of Hong Kong people to be legally represented and to directly influence the decisions of the Legislative Council. These changes run counter to the commitment in Articles 45 and 68 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China to enhance democratic representation through universal suffrage, which is the ultimate goal of the elections of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council.”
Borrelli said, “The European Union regrets that the fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and political pluralism that are at the heart of Hong Kong’s identity and prosperity are coming under increasing pressure from the government. These freedoms should have been protected, at least until 2047. These freedoms were agreed to in the Sino-British Joint Declaration registered by the Chinese and British governments at the United Nations and incorporated by the National People’s Congress into the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.” He noted that “today’s decision is therefore yet another violation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and yet another violation of China’s international commitments and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.”
Borrelli stressed that “the European Union calls on the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to restore confidence in the democratic process in Hong Kong and to stop persecuting those who promote democratic values. At the EU Foreign Affairs Council on February 22, 2021, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to develop a set of short- and long-term actions in addition to the initial response adopted in July 2020. In light of this latest decision, the EU will consider additional measures and will pay more attention to the situation in Hong Kong as part of the EU’s overall relationship with China.”
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