UK MPs Warn Beijing Over Its Treatment Of HK

A key British parliamentary body has questioned Beijing's commitment to the principle of One Country, Two Systems, warning that Hong Kong's autonomy is under threat and the SAR is "in reality moving towards One Country, One and a Half Systems".

In a report by the Foreign Affairs Committee published on Thursday, the panel challenged Beijing over its management of Hong Kong affairs, saying "China’s adherence to the letter and spirit of the Joint Declaration is a key test of the sincerity of its commitment to global governance."

"We are therefore deeply concerned by the evidence that Hong Kong’s autonomy is at risk, especially in the area of the rule of law, which is the lifeblood of Hong Kong’s future as a vibrant economy and society," the report said.

The report said that Beijing, the British Government and others had reaffirmed the importance of 'One Country, Two Systems'.

"But we fear that Hong Kong is in reality moving towards One Country, One and a Half Systems. We also believe that the Chinese government's approach to Hong Kong is moving closer to One Country, One System than it is to maintaining its treaty commitments under the Joint Declaration," the report said.

It also cited the apparent targeting by the Hong Kong authorities of independence advocates and of journalists who give them a hearing, citing the authorities' refusal to renew the visa of Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet. It said the use of the Societies Ordinance to ban the Hong Kong National Party, was a matter of deep concern, adding that citizens of a free society have the right to free speech.

"If the Hong Kong authorities' approach to the independence movement were to be replicated more broadly, this would be a very grave threat to the autonomy promised to Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration," it said.