The United Kingdom on Thursday accused China of breaking the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration after it disqualified four pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong, in the latest incident laying to rest the promise of One Country, Two Systems.
“Beijing’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong constitutes a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
“China has once again broken its promises and undermined Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” he added.
Under the 1984 agreement—which is legally binding—Beijing was to guarantee Hong Kong’s autonomy until at least 2047 under the One Country, Two Systems principle. With this agreement, the UK agreed to hand over Hong Kong to China in 1997, ending over a century of British rule.
Freed from mainland China’s socialist policies, Hong Kong’s liberal economic policies helped it become a financial hub of the region.
However, of late, China has increasingly interfered in Hong Kong’s domestic political and economic affairs. From the imposition of the National Security Law to the recent disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers—leading to the resignation of the entire democratic camp in the Hong Kong Legislature—China has increasingly asserted its control over Hong Kong.
The National Security Law put to rest the mass protests of 2019 that were the largest gatherings in decades in opposition to Beijing’s growing influence.
China’s actions have created a wave of immigration from Hong Kong as dissidents desiring democracy attempt to claim amnesty in the United Kingdom and abroad.
The UK now considers China to have violated the treaty thrice, laying the way for possible sanctions.
In response, China’s ambassador Liu Xiaoming was summoned and told of Britain’s “deep concerns”. Dominic Raab’s deputy, Nigel Adams, also told parliament that it was considering possible sanctions on individuals over China’s actions.
“We will continue to consider designations under our Magnitsky-style sanctions regime,” said Adams, Britain’s minister for Asia, when asked by lawmakers if Britain would sanction Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
