CANBERRA, Australia (PA) – Foreign ministers from Australia, the United States, Britain and Canada issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing “serious concern” over the arrest of 55 democracy activists and supporters in Hong Kong last week.
The arrests were by far the largest action taken under a national security law that China imposed on semi-autonomous territory just over six months ago.
“It is clear that the National Security Law is being used to eliminate dissent and opposing political opposition,” the four foreign ministers said.
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the law is needed to restore order in a city that was shaken in 2019 by months of often violent anti-government protests calling for greater democracy.
“We are horrified by the remarks made by some overseas government officials who seemed to suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions,” the Hong Kong government said in response to a statement from foreign ministers.
Most of those arrested last week ran in an informal primary for legislative elections that were later postponed. Authorities say the mayor was part of a plot to take control of the legislature to paralyze the government and force the city leader to resign.
The 55 were not charged and all but three were released on bail. pending further investigation. Convictions could disqualify them from running for office.
The four foreign ministers said the next legislative elections should include candidates representing a range of political views. Only half of the city’s legislature is elected by popular vote.
“We urge 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 Great Britain and Mike Pompeo of the United States.
Separately, Pompey announced on Saturday that the US is lifting long-standing restrictions on how its diplomats and others make contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, a self-governing island that China says should be under its leadership.
Actions on Taiwan and Hong Kong will undoubtedly anger China, which sees these moves as a foreign intervention in its internal affairs.
The Trump administration, which is in its last days, is also sending Kelly Craft, its ambassador to the United Nations in Taiwan later this week. China harshly criticized the next visit, while the Taiwanese government welcomed it.