CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – The foreign ministers of Australia, the United States, Britain and Canada on Sunday issued a joint statement expressing ‘serious concern’ over the arrest of 55 democracy activists and supporters in the past. week in Hong Kong.
The arrests were by far the largest such action under a national security law that China imposed on the semi-autonomous region a little over six months ago.
“It is clear that the national security law is being used to dispel disagreements and opposing political views,” the four foreign ministers said.
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the law is needed to restore order in a city shaken in 2019 by months of often violent anti-government protests demanding greater democracy.
“We are appalled by comments from some overseas government officials who suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune from legal sanctions,” the Hong Kong government said in response to the foreign ministers’ statement.
Most of those arrested last week ran in an unofficial election for a legislative election that was later postponed. Authorities claim that the primary part of a conspiracy was to take control of the legislature to paralyze the government and force the city’s leader to resign.
The 55 were not charged, and all three were released on bail pending further investigation. Convictions can disqualify them from holding office.
The four foreign ministers said the next legislative election should include candidates representing a variety of political views. Only half of the city’s legislature is elected by universal suffrage.
“We call on the central authorities in Hong Kong and China to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong without fear of arrest and detention,” they wrote.
The statement was signed by Marise Payne of Australia, Francois-Philippe Champagne of Canada, Dominic Raab of the United Kingdom and Mike Pompeo of the United States.
Separately, Pompeo announced on Saturday that the U.S. is invalidating long-standing restrictions on the way its diplomats and others have contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, a self-governing island that China believes should be under its rule.
The actions against Taiwan and Hong Kong will undoubtedly anger China, which views such movements as foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
The Trump administration, which is in its final days, will also send Kelly Craft, its ambassador to the United Nations, to Taiwan later this week. China sharply criticized the upcoming visit, while the Taiwanese government welcomed it.