Australia joins US, UK and Canada in criticising Hong Kong arrest of pro-democracy activists
Australia Foreign Minister Marise Payne says the people of Hong Kong should be free to live without fear of arrest and detention.(ABC News: Nick Haggarty)
The foreign ministers of Australia, the United States, Great Britain and Canada have issued a joint statement expressing “serious concern” about the arrest of 55 democracy activists and supporters in Hong Kong last week.
Key points:
- Foreign Minister Marise Payne joined counterparts in calling for “guaranteed rights and freedoms” in Hong Kong
- The ministers said Hong Kong’s national security law was being used to eliminate opposing political views
- In a move likely to anger Beijing, the US will send its ambassador to the UN to Taiwan this week
The arrests were by far the largest such action taken under a national security law that China imposed on the semi-autonomous territory a little more than six months ago.
“It is clear that the national security law is being used to eliminate dissent 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 that was rocked in 2019 by months of often violent anti-government demonstrations as protesters demanded greater democracy.
Most of those arrested last week had taken part in an unofficial primary for a legislative election that was later postponed.
Authorities allege the primary was part of a plot to take control of the legislature in order to paralyse the Government and force the city’s leader to resign.
The 55 have not been charged, and all but three have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Convictions could disqualify them from running for office.
The four foreign ministers said the next legislative election should include candidates representing a range of political opinions.
Only half the city’s legislature is elected by popular vote.
“We call on the Hong Kong and Chinese central authorities to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong without fear of arrest and detention,” the ministers wrote.
The statement was signed by Foreign Minister Marise Payne along with her counterparts Francois-Philippe Champagne of Canada, Dominic Raab of the UK and Mike Pompeo of the United States.
Separately, Mr Pompeo announced the US was voiding longstanding restrictions on how its diplomats and others had contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, a self-governing island China says should be under its rule.
The actions on Taiwan and Hong Kong will undoubtedly anger China, which views such moves as foreign interference in its internal affairs.
The Trump administration, which is in its final days, is also sending Kelly Craft, its ambassador to the United Nations, to Taiwan later this week.
China has sharply criticised the upcoming visit, while the Taiwan Government has welcomed it.
AP, ABC
