US Slams Move To Reduce HK Political Participation

The United States strongly condemns moves by China to further reduce political participation and representation in Hong Kong and is deeply concerned by a second delay in the territory's Legco elections, the US State Department says.

"We are deeply concerned by these changes to Hong Kong's electoral system, which defy the will of people in Hong Kong and deny Hongkongers a voice in their own governance," a State Department spokesman said in an email when asked about the changes finalised on Tuesday.

The sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system will drastically curb democratic representation as authorities seek to ensure "patriots" rule the territory.

The measures are part of Beijing's efforts to consolidate its increasingly authoritarian grip on Hong Kong following the imposition of a national security law in June, which critics see as a tool to crush dissent.

Britain said the changes breached the 1984 Joint Declaration signed by then Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in which Hong Kong's autonomy was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" agreement.

The US spokesman, who did not want to be identified by name, said Beijing must uphold its international obligations under the Joint Declaration.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the changes would be submitted to the Legislative Council by mid-April and she expected to see them passed by the end of May.

Legco elections, already pushed back once to September with the government citing coronavirus, would be held in December, she said.

"We are ... deeply concerned by the delay of the September Legco elections for the second time," the US spokesman said.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory had long enjoyed under US law. (Reuters)