Hong Kong Half-Year Report: Hong Kong’s National Security Law is a Serious Violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration” Zhao Lijian Rebounds

On November 23, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office released its “Half-Yearly Report on Hong Kong,” once again triggering a backlash from China.

British Foreign Secretary Raab pointed out in the report that the Chinese government’s promulgation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law and disqualification of several members of the Legislative Council are two serious violations of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in just five months. The relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) not only violate China’s commitment to Hong Kong’s “high degree of autonomy,” but also violate the Joint Declaration’s promise to protect Hong Kong’s freedom of speech.

Mr. Raab emphasized that the United Kingdom is fully committed to supporting Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, rights and freedoms under the framework of the Joint Statement and “one country, two systems”, and that the United Kingdom will not waver in this commitment. He also criticized the postponement of the Hong Kong Legislative Council election as “totally unacceptable”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian “strongly condemned” the British government’s “inversion of right and wrong and muddle-headedness” on Hong Kong affairs at a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. Zhao Lijian said, “The United Kingdom does not have any supervisory power or so-called moral responsibility over Hong Kong affairs, and has no right to intervene in Hong Kong affairs by means of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.”