Patten heads Hong Kong protest

SCORES of British politicians have signed an international statement calling for a tougher global stance against China’s threat to pass new laws clamping down on residents of Hong Kong.

Led by the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten, and the former Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, 194 parliamentarians in 23 countries have declared that Hong Kong’s independent status is ‘hanging by a thread’.

The globally co-ordinated statement reads: ‘We write to express grave concerns about the unilateral introduction of national security legislation by Beijing in Hong Kong.

‘This is a comprehensive assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

The integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread…

‘Sympathetic governments must unite to say that this flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration cannot be tolerated.’

Lord Patten said: ‘The statement shows growing and widespread international outrage at the decision by the Chinese government to unilaterally impose national security legislation in Hong Kong. The breadth of support, which spans all political parties and four continents, reflects both the severity of the situation and ongoing unified international support for the principle of one-country, two-systems.’

Sir Malcolm told the MoS: ‘The people of Hong Kong need and deserve our support.’