A joint statement by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States has been released in response to recent moves by Hong Kong authorities to disqualify a number of pro-democracy candidates from participating in upcoming elections.
The statement in full, as issued via official channels by all signatories – listed below – reads:
We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom , and the United States Secretary of State, are gravely concerned by the Hong Kong government’s unjust disqualification of candidates and disproportionate postponement of Legislative Council elections. These moves have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.
We express deep concern at Beijing’s imposition of the new National Security Law, which is eroding the Hong Kong people’s fundamental rights and liberties.
We support the legitimate expectations of the people of Hong Kong to elect Legislative Council representatives via genuinely free, fair, and credible elections. We call on the Hong Kong government to reinstate the eligibility of disqualified candidates so that the elections can take place in an environment conducive to the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Basic Law.
Beijing promised autonomy and freedoms under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle to the Hong Kong people in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a U.N.-registered treaty, and must honor its commitments. We urge the Hong Kong government to hold the elections as soon as possible.
You must have seen that rumors are making rounds regarding Rose Hanbury's alleged affair with…
In a historic move, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has increased its key interest rate…
In the Formula 1 World, things are very uncertain and same was the case last…
The Formula One world has been rocked by escalating tensions within the Red Bull Racing…
Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull Racing's star driver Max Verstappen, has publicly stated that…
In a dramatic turn of events at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Russian tennis star Andrey…