On Friday 22 May, the European Union, through its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called on China to respect Hong Kong's autonomy.
The day before, a spokesperson for China’s National People’s Congress announced a bill to safeguard national security in the city-state. This text aims to prohibit “treason, secession, sedition and subversion” in Hong Kong.
The EU “attaches great importance to the preservation of Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, in line with the Basic Law and with international commitments, as well as to the respect for this principle”, warned the High Representative in his statement on behalf of the EU. In his opinion, democratic debate, consultation of key stakeholders, and respect for protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong would represent the “best way of proceeding with the adoption of national security legislation, as foreseen in Article 23 of the Basic Law, while also upholding Hong Kong’s autonomy and the ‘One Country Two Systems’ principle.
The EU will continue to follow developments closely, Mr Borrell also emphasised, as protests against the bill are increasing in Hong Kong and are being met with a strong response from riot police. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)