Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Joint Statement On Hong Kong by US, UK, Canada, Australia
U.S. department of State ^ | 5/28/20 | U.S., UK, Canada, Australia

Posted on 05/28/2020 1:52:53 PM PDT by ifinnegan

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Begin Text:

Signatories to this statement reiterate our deep concern regarding Beijing’s decision to impose a national security law in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of freedom. The international community has a significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. Direct imposition of national security legislation on Hong Kong by the Beijing authorities, rather than through Hong Kong’s own institutions as provided for under Article 23 of the Basic Law, would curtail the Hong Kong people’s liberties, and in doing so, dramatically erode Hong Kong’s autonomy and the system that made it so prosperous.

China’s decision to impose a new national security law on Hong Kong lies in direct conflict with its international obligations under the principles of the legally-binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration. The proposed law would undermine the One Country, Two Systems framework. It also raises the prospect of prosecution in Hong Kong for political crimes, and undermines existing commitments to protect the rights of Hong Kong people – including those set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

We are also extremely concerned that this action will exacerbate the existing deep divisions in Hong Kong society; the law does nothing to build mutual understanding and foster reconciliation within Hong Kong. Rebuilding trust across Hong Kong society by allowing the people of Hong Kong to enjoy the rights and freedoms they were promised can be the only way back from the tensions and unrest that the territory has seen over the last year.

The world’s focus on a global pandemic requires enhanced trust in governments and international cooperation. Beijing’s unprecedented move risks having the opposite effect.

As Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity are jeopardized by the new imposition, we call on the Government of China to work with the Hong Kong SAR Government and the people of Hong Kong to find a mutually acceptable accommodation that will honor China’s international obligations under the UN-filed Sino-British Joint Declaration.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Breaking News; Canada; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 202005; australia; canada; china; hongkong; india; smackdown2020; taiwan; unitedkingdom; vietnam; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last
Good statement.

Recognizes Chinese communists have abrogated the treaty, leaving it open Hong Kong to become a Singapore-like city-state.

1 posted on 05/28/2020 1:52:53 PM PDT by ifinnegan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Time to release another virus


2 posted on 05/28/2020 1:54:04 PM PDT by TangledUpInBlue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

I found the statement to be rather tepid at best.


3 posted on 05/28/2020 1:55:29 PM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
They accidentally cut off the bottom where it said:

Up Yours Winnie the Pooh!

4 posted on 05/28/2020 2:00:53 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Hong Kong should claim independence from China and the world ceases to do business with them.
Enough of their crap and lies


5 posted on 05/28/2020 2:01:05 PM PDT by manc ( If they want so called marriage equality then they should support polygamy too.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Well that’ll teach ‘em.


6 posted on 05/28/2020 2:02:24 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Where is New Zealand? A-WOL.


7 posted on 05/28/2020 2:09:26 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard (Power is more often surrendered than seized)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

“I found the statement to be rather tepid at best.”

What do you expect from a joint statement from diplomats.

It’s in fact quite strong in context and something Obama, Bush or Clinton administrations would not do.


8 posted on 05/28/2020 2:14:48 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: billorites
I found the statement to be rather tepid at best.

If I'm Taiwan, I start working on a nuclear program today. I'd hate to depend on the kindness of strangers. And if I lose everything, well, at least I take a few Chinese cities down with me.

9 posted on 05/28/2020 2:16:19 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: manc
"China’s decision to impose a new national security law on Hong Kong lies in direct conflict with its international obligations under the principles of the legally-binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration."

This is saying in diplomatese that the agreement is null and void.

10 posted on 05/28/2020 2:17:48 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: TangledUpInBlue

Time to release another virus

Wuhan II - This time it is personal


11 posted on 05/28/2020 2:18:27 PM PDT by Dacula
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman

I bet they already have all the components and just have to put them together, just like Japan.


12 posted on 05/28/2020 2:19:55 PM PDT by StolarStorm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan
"It’s in fact quite strong in context and something Obama, Bush or Clinton administrations would not do."

Obama would have sent the Chi-Coms pallets of cash.

13 posted on 05/28/2020 2:22:13 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

leaving it open Hong Kong to become a Singapore-like city-state.


Yeah. Right. How does the Malaysian army compare to the ChiComs?


14 posted on 05/28/2020 2:30:01 PM PDT by Hieronymus (“I shall drink to the Pope, if you please, still, to conscience first, and to the Pope afterwards.Â)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mass55th

You know it.


15 posted on 05/28/2020 2:32:23 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: manc

Hong Kong is almost indefensible. It’s only freshwater source is from the mainland - “ New Territories” as it was once called. Hong Kong Island has no natural freshwater.


16 posted on 05/28/2020 2:41:30 PM PDT by Reily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hieronymus

“Yeah. Right. How does the Malaysian army compare to the ChiComs?”

Are you under the impression that Singapore’s status is due to a military victory of Singapore over the Malaysian army?


17 posted on 05/28/2020 2:48:38 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

The hell with it. They should declare independence.


18 posted on 05/28/2020 2:49:42 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reily

“Hong Kong is almost indefensible. It’s only freshwater source is from the mainland - “ New Territories” as it was once called. Hong Kong Island has no natural freshwater.”

ChiComs threatened to cut of water and resources if UK didn’t give them Hong Kong.

The agreement was based in extortion.


19 posted on 05/28/2020 2:50:43 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Reily

It’s surrounded by water. Desalination technology exists.


20 posted on 05/28/2020 2:51:26 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson