BRUSSELS, July 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The European Union has expressed this Thursday its support for the request of the United Nations Human Rights Committee to repeal the Hong Kong National Security Law and has argued that the legislation in the country must be compatible with international standards. .
“The EU supports the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee, in particular to repeal both the National Security Law and the sedition law, and to refrain, immediately, from applying them”, highlighted the European Union’s Foreign Action Service in a statement in which he added that “Hong Kong’s national laws must be compatible with international standards.”
The UN Committee of Human Rights experts urged Hong Kong this week to withdraw the controversial National Security Law, imposed by China, as it could be used to suppress freedom of expression and conscience in the former British colony.
In this regard, the European Union has urged the Hong Kong authorities to ensure that representatives of civil society are not persecuted or intimidated because of their links with international organisations.
“The European Union condemns any act of intimidation or retaliation,” the European Union’s External Action service said in a statement.
In addition, the department has shown “its grave concern” about the increasing violation of civil and political rights in Hong Kong, such as freedom of expression, freedom of the press, political pluralism and freedom of association.
The EU has recalled the importance of safeguarding fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, judicial independence, as well as “the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ enshrined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong, and the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong, guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration, at least until 2047,” added the EU’s Foreign Action service.
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