UN special rapporteurs on Friday warned China that its controversial Hong Kong security law posed a risk to the freedoms of the former British colony.
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The text entered into force at the end of June in the autonomous territory. “The measures adopted (…) present a serious risk that these fundamental freedoms (…) will be violated”, affirm the rapporteurs in a letter dated September 1, which accuses Beijing of not respecting its international obligations.
The text particularly threatens “freedom of thought, expression and assembly”, warn experts. He particularly seems to “criminalize the freedom to express any criticism of China.”
The law was passed by China bypassing the local Hong Kong parliament and before people could see the final text.
It punishes “subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces”. This legislation makes the local democratic opposition fear a serious decline in the freedoms in force in this territory of 7.5 million inhabitants, returned to China in 1997.
Many Western countries, led by the United States, have condemned the new legislation.
In retaliation, Washington revoked the preferential trade status granted to the former British colony, restricted the granting of visas for Chinese officials accused of “questioning” the autonomy of this semi-autonomous territory and stopped the sale of ‘sensitive defense equipment in Hong Kong.
Beijing denounced an “interference” in its internal affairs.
Hong Kong is supposed to enjoy a wide autonomy from the rest of the country led by the Communist Party of China (CCP), under the principle of “One country, two systems”: its inhabitants have enjoyed freedom of expression since 1997 , freedom of the press and independent justice.