This is the reaction of the Group of Seven and the European Union to the sham Hong Kong elections

This is the reaction of the Group of Seven and the European Union to the sham Hong Kong elections

The “national” vote annoys the West calling on China to act in accordance with the Sino-British Declaration and respect rights. Meanwhile, Washington imposes sanctions on five other officials in Beijing and warns those who deal with them

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States) and the High Representative of the European Union for foreign and security policy, Josep BorrellHe expressed grave concern over the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong in the wake of the “national” elections that put new Chinese pressure on the former British colony.

“The package of electoral system changes introduced earlier this year in Hong Kong, including reducing the number of directly elected seats and creating a new vetting process to severely restrict the selection of candidates on the ballot, has undermined the high degree of independence,” they explained in a statement. One country, two systems principle. “We strongly reiterate our call for China to act in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its other legal obligations and to respect Hong Kong’s fundamental rights and freedoms, as required by the Basic Law,” it reads again. “We call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in the institutions political activism in Hong Kong and put an end to the unjustified repression of those who promote democratic values ​​and defend rights and freedoms.”

The Five Eyes organization also issued a statement of condemnation, that is, the intelligence coalition that includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The latter also sent another warning signal to Beijing (but not just Beijing): the decision to add five Chinese officials to the 34 already under sanctions to help undermine democracy in Hong Kong. He also warned foreign financial institutions: anyone who deals with them will be subject to penalties.

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