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<p>Article 10 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, requires the Hong Kong authorities
to promote national security education in schools and universities and through social
organisations, the media and the internet. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in
his statement of 1 July 2020, this legislation constitutes a clear and serious breach
of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy
and its rights and freedoms. Separately, in his Foreword to the UK Government's Six
Monthly Report on Hong Kong covering the period 1 <del class="ministerial">July</del>
<strong><ins class="ministerial">January</ins> </strong>to 31 <ins class="ministerial">July</ins>
<del class="ministerial">December</del> 2020, the Foreign Secretary noted that the
chilling effects of the National Security Law were already being seen in Hong Kong,
including damaging freedom of expression in academia and schools.</p><p>As a co-signatory
to the Joint Declaration, we have a duty to speak out when we have concerns. We will
continue to bring together our international partners to stand up for the people of
Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their freedoms, and to hold China to their
international obligations it freely assumed under international law.</p>
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