The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, underlined on Friday 30 August the concern of the Foreign Ministers meeting in Helsinki over the arrest of several figures of the democracy movement in Hong Kong.
More than 850 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began.
“The latest developments are extremely worrying. We expect authorities to respect freedom of assembly, expression and association and the right to demonstrate peacefully”, she told reporters, while Finland's head of diplomacy, Pekka Haavisto, called for respect for the principle of “one country, two systems”.
The High Representative warned that the EU would continue to monitor the situation closely, also concerning European citizens on the ground and the EU's economic interests in Hong Kong. More than 2,200 European companies are present in the Special Administrative Region, according to figures from the European External Action Service (EEAS). The situation will also be discussed on Tuesday 3 September, by the ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee.
Ms Mogherini also recalled that, in recent weeks, Member States had shown their unity on the subject. “We will continue to send the message, publicly and privately, that we will not continue to go in the wrong direction, but, on the contrary, reverse the trend”, she added.
A European source indicated that the EEAS was in contact with the Chinese authorities regarding Hong Kong and that its office in Hong Kong was very active. However, the last contacts between Ms Mogherini and State Councillor Wang Yi were reportedly made earlier this month. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)