Following British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s statement that China is destroying the “jewel” of Hong Kong with its crackdown, China has warned Britain that its interferences in Hong Kong’s affairs will “definitely backfire”.
He, therefore, called on China to “step back from the brink” and respect Hong Kong’s autonomy and Beijing’s international obligations.
Raab also said the national security law on Hong Kong was a breach of Beijing’s international commitments to the “one country, two systems” principle agreement on the former colony.
In a swift response, Zhao Lijia, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman during a briefing warned that Britain had no jurisdiction or supervision over the city and that any threat to the city’s stability and prosperity comes from foreign forces.
“We advise the UK to step back from the brink, abandon their Cold War mentality and colonial mindset, and recognize and respect the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China”, he said.
China said it has lodged stern representations with the UK over its foreign secretary’s remarks.
Following Raab’s speech, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he will offer millions of Hong Kongers visas and a possible route to UK citizenship if China persists with its national security law.
It is not only Britain that is frowning on China’s seemingly interference in Hong Kong, President Donald Trump of the United State has also threatened to downgrade relationship with Hong Kong.
Trump recently stated that China’s decision to impose a national security law was absolutely smothering Hong Kong’s freedom and make it impossible for the US to continue treating the city with a special status.
Recall that protests broke out in Hong Kong after China signaled plans to impose new national-security laws on Hong Kong with critics fearing this could undermine judicial independence and endanger dissidents.
Until 1997, Hong Kong was ruled by Britain as a colony but then returned to China. Under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, it has some autonomy, and its people more rights.
