EU Worries About Hong Kong Unfounded, Says Govt

The government has dismissed concerns raised by the European Union over the erosion of the One Country, Two Systems principle, after the body stated in its annual report on Hong Kong that there are worrying trends that freedom of speech is being narrowed.

In its 22nd annual report on Hong Kong, the EU said key freedoms continued to be upheld in 2019 in general, but noted there were worrying trends in respect to freedom of speech, especially in relation to anti-government protests.

It underlined the enactment of the anti-mask law, and Beijing’s suggestion that Hong Kong courts cannot rule on the constitutionality of local legislations.

The EU said any steps to curb the prerogatives of the courts “would undermine the autonomy vested in Hong Kong, including the independence of its judiciary and the rule of law”.

It said the government had only limited engagement with the protest movement.

The EU urged the government to give a convincing response to the grievances expressed through the protests to secure Hong Kong’s stability in the longer term, calling on it to resume political reform and establish an electoral system that is democratic, fair, open and transparent.

It said in the report that “universal suffrage would give the Hong Kong government greater public support and legitimacy, which would help in attaining Hong Kong’s economic objectives and tackling its socioeconomic challenges".

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, meanwhile, said the EU will not “simply stand back and watch” as China attempts to curtail the SAR’s freedoms with the “draconian” national security law. He said the EU is working on a comprehensive and coordinated response on this matter.

In response, the SAR government said the EU’s concerns about the erosion of SAR's high degree of autonomy and people's rights and freedoms are totally unfounded.

A government spokesman said foreign countries’ sanctions targeting Hong Kong are “flagrant violations of international law” and could hardly be in the interest of Hong Kong people and the SAR’s bilateral partners.

The government called on EU member states to adopt a pragmatic and rational attitude, and bear in mind the mutually beneficial relations between the two sides.