China warns UK of ‘penalties’ over Hong Kong ‘interference’

The UK will “bear the results” if it continues to go “down the unsuitable highway” on Hong Kong, China has warned.

On Monday, the UK suspended an extradition treaty with Hong Kong over a brand new safety legislation for the ex-colony, which provides Beijing extra energy.

In response, the Chinese language ambassador in London mentioned the UK had “blatantly interfered” in China’s affairs.

Liu Xiaoming mentioned: “China has by no means interfered in UK’s inside affairs. The UK ought to do the identical to China.”

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to supply three million Hong Kong residents the prospect to settle within the UK, permitting them to finally apply for British citizenship.

And the federal government individually introduced it could require the removing of Chinese language know-how from the UK’s fledgling 5G cellular community.

The strikes got here after Beijing launched the controversial new safety legislation on the finish of June, creating offences that might see Hong Kong residents despatched to mainland China for trial.

Critics have claimed the legislation might see pro-democracy protesters within the area being served with life sentences.

In the meantime, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in London on Monday night forward of talks with the PM on points together with China and the coronavirus pandemic.

In keeping with its opponents, the brand new safety laws breaches an settlement made with the UK earlier than Hong Kong – a former British colony – was handed over to China in 1997.

Underneath a 50-year settlement, China enshrined civil liberties – together with the best to protest, freedom of speech and the independence of the judiciary – in Hong Kong’s Primary Legislation, an strategy which got here to be often called “one nation, two techniques”.

International Secretary Dominic Raab introduced the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong on Monday, saying there was “uncertainty” about how the brand new safety legislation will likely be enforced.

“I’d simply say this: the UK is watching and the entire world is watching,” he mentioned.

The choice implies that if somebody within the UK is suspected of against the law in Hong Kong, they won’t routinely be handed over by British authorities to face justice there.

‘Mistaken highway’

Ambassador Xiaoming mentioned in a tweet that the UK had “contravened worldwide legislation and the essential norms governing worldwide relations” with the transfer.

And an announcement printed on the Chinese language Embassy’s web site mentioned: “China urges the UK aspect to right away cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs, that are China’s inside affairs, in any type.

“The UK will bear the results if it insists on happening the unsuitable highway.”

Mr Raab on Sunday accused China of “gross and egregious” human rights abuses towards its Uighur inhabitants and mentioned sanctions towards these accountable can’t be dominated out.

However Ambassador Xiaoming denied abuses had been happening and mentioned discuss of a focus camp was “faux” after being confronted with drone footage showing to indicate Uighurs being blindfolded and led to trains.

Final week, the UK authorities introduced it could require the removing of know-how manufactured by Chinese language firm Huawei from the nation’s fledgling 5G cellular community.

That call adopted sanctions imposed by Washington after claims the agency poses a nationwide safety risk as a consequence of its hyperlinks with China – one thing Huawei has denied.

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