One Country, Two Systems Is Over: Chris Patten

Hong Kong's last governor, Chris Patten, said on Tuesday that Beijing's passage of the national security law for Hong Kong means One Country, Two Systems has come to an end.

In a statement issued by the UK-based pressure group Hong Kong Watch, Patten said the legislation will "throttle" the city's rule of law.

"This decision, which rides rough-shod over Hong Kong's elected legislature, marks the end of one-country, two-systems. It is a flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration – a treaty lodged at the United Nations – and Hong Kong's mini constitution, the Basic Law," he said.

"It will throttle the city's rule of law, presenting a major confrontation between what passes for law in China and the common law system in Hong Kong which has allowed the city to function as one of the most important financial hubs in Asia."

Patten added that Hong Kong's separation of powers is "in danger of being shattered" and the courts "politicised" by the move to allow the Chief Executive to choose which judges sit on national security cases.