dpa
Brussels
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has expressed concern about the potential impact of Hong Kong’s new security law on the rights and freedoms of people in the Chinese special administrative region.
Following the adoption of the controversial bill by the pro-Beijing Legislative Council, or LegCo, in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Borrell said in a statement in Brussels that the move could “exacerbate the erosion of fundamental freedoms and political pluralism.” The law could “significantly affect” the work of the EU representation and the consulates general of EU states in Hong Kong and impact European citizens, organizations and companies in the Asian metropolis, Borrell said.
“This also raises questions about Hong Kong’s long-term attractiveness as an international business hub,” the EU top diplomat added. According to his assessment, the comprehensive provisions and vague definitions relating to “foreign interference and state secrets” in the law appear to be “particularly worrying.” The law gives the authorities of the former British colony further powers to take action against critical voices.
It follows on from the security law introduced in 2020 after the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, with which Beijing tightened its grip on the special administrative region, and restricted many of the freedoms previously enjoyed by Hong Kong’s 7 million inhabitants.
The local security law was necessary as the law already implemented by Beijing didn’t fulfil all the points prescribed by Hong Kong’s constitution.
Human rights organizations also voiced harsh criticism. The new law heralds “a new era of authoritarianism” in Hong Kong, wrote Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“Now even possessing a book critical of the Chinese government can violate national security and lead to years in prison in Hong Kong,” she wrote. Hong Kong’s government should stop its “aggressive assault on basic rights,” she said. Foreign governments should hold Beijing accountable with targeted sanctions against Hong Kong officials.
