Five-eyed allies call on China to lift Hong Kong ban on pro-democracy lawmakers | World News

The Five Eyes Intelligence Sharing Group says China has imposed new rules to disqualify elected legislators Hong Kong It appeared to be part of a campaign to silence critics and call for a change in Beijing.

“We urge Chinese officials to reconsider their actions against Hong Kong’s elected legislature and immediately re – appoint members of the legislature,” the foreign ministers of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States said in a joint statement.

Hong Kong was expelled Four members of the opposition from its legislature Last week Beijing gave city officials new powers to prevent dissent. The move prompted mass resignations by Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition lawmakers.

When Britain ended its colonial rule and handed over Hong Kong back, it raised further warnings about the status of Hong Kong’s autonomy promised under the “one country, two organizations” formula. China In 1997.

The five countries stated that “China’s action is a clear violation of its international obligations under the UN-registered Sino-British joint declaration, which is legally bound.”

Britain China now considers the joint declaration to have been violated three times, Including the National Security Act for Hong Kong introduced this year.

Washington has already imposed sanctions on Hong Kong chief executive Gary Lam and other Chinese officials over the crackdown and warned of further action.

Police in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning arrested three former legislators in connection with incidents in May and June in connection with incidents of foul-smelling liquid being thrown into the city’s legislature, an action police said with intent to cause harm.

China denies restricting rights and freedoms at the global financial center, but officials in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to prevent disagreements since anti-government protests erupted in June last year and plunged the city into crisis.