Picture caption Ambassador Liu Xiaoming m
Ambassador Liu Xiaoming mentioned the UK had made “irresponsible remarks”
China has warned the UK to not intervene with Hong Kong following the imposition of a brand new safety regulation, as one pro-democracy campaigner begged for worldwide assist.
Ambassador Liu Xiaoming mentioned the UK’s supply of a path to citizenship for as much as three million Hong Kongers amounted to “gross interference”.
The supply got here after Beijing introduced within the controversial and sweeping new regulation.
Opponents say it erodes the territory’s freedoms as a semi-autonomous area.
Activist Joshua Wong had earlier referred to as for extra assist, asking his fellow Hong Kongers and the broader world to not “kowtow” to Beijing.
However Ambassador Liu mentioned he hoped the UK would rethink its supply.
“The UK authorities retains making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs,” he informed reporters.
The ambassador mentioned a choice on precisely how Beijing meant to reply to the supply could be made as soon as it knew the small print.
The UK has argued that China has reneged on an settlement made in 1997, which supplied sure freedoms to Hong Kong for 50 years in return for handing the territory again to Beijing.
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Reuters
Joshua Wong, centre, appeared in court docket with fellow activists Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow
Quite a few different international locations, together with the US, Canada, Japan and Australia, have additionally expressed concern over the imposition of the regulation.
The brand new regulation, which was introduced in final week, targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments of as much as life in jail.
Opponents like Mr Wong say it successfully ends freedom of speech. Beijing rejects this.
Mr Wong, who appeared in court docket on Monday with two different activists charged with unlawful meeting, mentioned the regulation was already having a chilling impact.
Over the weekend, books by pro-democracy activists had been faraway from public libraries.
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However Mr Wong was decided to maintain preventing.
“We all know now it is an uphill battle, however irrespective of we have now our pals within the international neighborhood proceed their worldwide advocacy,” he informed reporters exterior court docket.
“Or, in Hong Kong, we nonetheless urge folks to vote within the upcoming major election scheduled on this weekend.
“We additionally encourage extra folks in Hong Kong or within the international neighborhood to proceed to let Beijing conscious [sic] that to kowtow to China isn’t an possibility and we should get up and battle.”
What’s the safety regulation?
The regulation is wide-ranging, and offers Beijing powers that it has by no means had earlier than to form life in Hong Kong. The regulation makes it an offence to incite hatred of China’s central authorities and Hong Kong’s regional authorities.
It additionally permits for closed-door trials, wire-tapping of suspects and the potential for suspects to be tried on the Chinese language mainland.
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Acts together with damaging public transport amenities – which frequently occurred throughout the 2019 protests – may be thought-about terrorism.
There are additionally considerations over on-line freedom as web suppliers might need handy over information if requested by police.
Hong Kong’s new safety regulation