This afternoon I was invited by my Hong Kong friends to visit their stall in Reading Town Centre raising awareness of the actions of the government in Hong Kong which has passed a new tough security law restricting freedom of speech in breach of the Sino-British joint declaration.
The Sino-British Joint Declaration promised 50 years of autonomy for Hong Kong, safeguarding its rights and freedoms. The UK, as a co-signatory, must ensure this commitment is upheld.
However, recent legislative proposals by the Hong Kong government raise concerns. These include harsh penalties for speech crimes, risks to international organizations being labelled as 'foreign interference,' and vague terms threatening legitimate diplomatic activities. Lack of oversight and clarity on detention procedures are also worrying. The UK has called for reconsideration and genuine consultation with Hong Kong's people, stressing the importance of democratic legitimacy in national security legislation. The Government has said that monitoring of these developments will continue closely.
The full text of the Government statement can be seen here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-on-hong-kong-national-security-proposals
