USA and other Western countries "extremely concerned" about arrests in Hong Kong

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had initially threatened sanctions

Photo: Saul Loeb / AP

The US and other Western countries are "extremely concerned" about the arrest of more than 50 democracy activists in Hong Kong.

The actions of the police in the Chinese special administrative region are "a clear violation" of the agreements made when the former British crown colony was handed over to Beijing, according to a statement published in Washington on Saturday.

This was signed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterparts from Great Britain, Canada and Australia.

Massive interference in autonomy rights

"It is very clear that the national security law is being used to suppress dissenting political opinions," say the ministers, referring to a controversial new law in Hong Kong.

The joint statement does not mention any sanctions that Pompeo had threatened in an initial reaction to the arrests.

The police in Hong Kong last Wednesday arrested 53 government opponents on the basis of the so-called security law, including former MPs, young activists and a US citizen who works for a law firm in Hong Kong.

The accused were accused of "subversion", it was said.

The so-called security law passed by Beijing in June allows the authorities to crack down on all activities in Hong Kong that they believe threaten national security.

It interferes massively with the autonomy rights of the special administrative area.

The law was passed in response to the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019.

When it was handed over to China in 1997, the former British crown colony had been granted special rights for 50 years, including freedom of expression and assembly.

Western states see the so-called security law as a blatant violation of the agreements of the time.

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mfh / AFP