CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – The foreign ministers of Australia, the United States, Britain and Canada issued a joint statement on Sunday expressing “serious concerns” over the arrest of 55 activists and supporters of the United States. democracy in Hong Kong last week.
The arrests were by far the most important actions taken under a national security law that China imposed on semi-autonomous territory just over six months ago.
“It is clear that 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 shaken in 2019 by months of often violent anti-government protests demanding greater democracy.
“We are appalled by the statements of 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 the statement from foreign ministers ‘External Affairs.
Most of those arrested last week had run in unofficial primaries for legislative elections that were later postponed. Authorities allege the primaries were part of a plot to take control of the legislature to paralyze the government and force the city 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 upcoming legislative elections should include candidates representing various political views. Only half of the city legislature is elected by popular vote.
“We call on the central authorities of Hong Kong and China to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong without fear of being arrested and detained,” they wrote.
The statement was signed by Marise Payne of Australia, Francois-Philippe Champagne of Canada, Dominic Raab of the United Kingdom and Mike Pompeo of the United States.
Separately, Pompey announced Saturday that the U.S. overturns long-standing restrictions on how its diplomats and others contact its counterparts in Taiwan, a self-governing island that China says should be under its rule.
Actions in Taiwan and Hong Kong will no doubt outrage China, which sees these moves as foreign interference in its internal affairs.
The Trump administration, which is in the last few days, is also sending Kelly Craft, its ambassador to the United Nations in Taiwan later this week. China has harshly criticized the upcoming visit, while the Taiwanese government has received it.