| answer text |
<p>As the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 1 July, the adoption by the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing of a wide-ranging national
security law for Hong Kong is a grave and deeply disturbing step. The enactment of
this legislation, imposed by Beijing on the people of Hong Kong, constitutes a clear
and serious breach of the Joint Declaration.</p><p>The UK has already raised Hong
Kong in the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council. We are focused on giving
voice to the widespread international concerns on Hong Kong, and to working closely
with international partners to call on China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities.
Whilst formal mechanisms have proved helpful in other contexts in focusing the international
community's attention, we judge that pursuing such an option at this time risks providing
China an opportunity to frustrate and obstruct progress, undermining our objectives.
We do not, though, rule out any diplomatic options and will keep the issue under review.
We will also continue to work actively within international institutions and through
multilateral groupings to urge China to uphold its international commitments, including
the Joint Declaration.</p>
|
|
