WASHINGTON 鈥 The United States strongly condemns moves by China to further reduce political participation and representation in Hong Kong and is deeply concerned by a second delay in the territory鈥檚 LegCo (Legislative Council of the Hong Kong) elections, the US State Department said on Tuesday.
鈥淲e are deeply concerned by these changes to Hong Kong鈥檚 electoral system, which defy the will of people in Hong Kong and deny Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance,鈥 a State Department spokesman said in an email when asked about the changes finalized on Tuesday.
The sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong鈥檚 electoral system will drastically curb democratic representation as authorities seek to ensure 鈥減atriots鈥 rule the global financial hub.
The measures are part of Beijing鈥檚 efforts to consolidate its increasingly authoritarian grip on Hong Kong following the imposition of a national security law in June, which critics see as a tool to crush dissent.
Britain said the changes breached a 1984 Joint Declaration signed by then Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in which Hong Kong鈥檚 autonomy was guaranteed under a 鈥渙ne country, two systems鈥 agreement.
The US spokesman, who did not want to be identified by name, said Beijing must uphold its international obligations under the Joint Declaration.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the changes would be submitted to the territory鈥檚 Legislative Council by mid-April and she expected to see them passed by the end of May.
Legislative Council elections, already postponed once to September with the government citing coronavirus, would be held in December, she said.
鈥淲e are … deeply concerned by the delay of the September LegCo elections for the second time,鈥 the US spokesman said.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory had long enjoyed under US law. 鈥 Reuters
