The Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the third reading of a bill to amend the electoral system on May 27 with 40 votes in favor and 2 votes against. In response, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsushin expressed Japan’s “growing concern” to the media on the 28th. He said Japan will convey its thoughts and concerns to China, while working closely with the international community in this regard.
At a press conference on Friday, Kato said, “We are increasingly concerned about the impact on freedom of expression and media, which are the basis for democracy and stable development and have benefited Hong Kong. He added that Japan will convey its thoughts and concerns to China, while working closely with the international community.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said through a statement on May 27 that “the Chinese government also continues to undermine Hong Kong’s democratic system and deny Hong Kong residents rights once guaranteed by the People’s Republic of China. The new measures passed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council on May 27 to change the composition of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and Election Committee severely restrict the ways in which the people of Hong Kong can meaningfully participate in their own governance and express their views.” He claimed that “weakening the representation of Hong Kong residents in the legislature will not be conducive to maintaining Hong Kong’s long-term political and social stability. This legislation ignores the clear commitment in the Hong Kong Basic Law that the ultimate goal of the Legislative Council election is to achieve universal suffrage. We once again call on the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong authorities to heed the voice of the people of Hong Kong.”
We also call on them to release individuals who have been charged under the National Security Law and other laws simply for participating in the election or expressing different views, and to drop the charges against them,” Blinken said. The United States will stand in solidarity with our allies and partners to speak out and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms promised to the people of Hong Kong by the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also reiterated Britain’s ongoing concern about the situation in Hong Kong during a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded at a press conference on Friday, saying, “China expresses its strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to the U.S. side’s blatant slander of local legislation to improve the HKSAR’s electoral system.”
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