The ALDE Party Bureau, meeting virtually on 3 July 2020, adopted the following statement:

Statement by the ALDE Party Bureau on the situation in Hong Kong

The imposition of a wide-ranging draconian national security law on the people of Hong Kong by China has shattered the “one country two systems” agreement and marks the end of Hong Kong as we knew it. These are dark days for liberty and freedoms. An authoritarian chill has swept through Hong Kong harbour.

Rushing to implement this law, without any consultations with the people of Hong Kong or event informing the Beijing-appointed Chief Executive of the final text before its adoption, demonstrates how little disregard China has for suppressing democratic human rights, cracking down on personal civil liberties and freedoms, and going back on promises it makes internationally.

We call for the European Union to strongly condemn China and show its support for the citizens of Hong Kong who wish to maintain their way of life, their freedoms of expression and protest, and seek to promote democracy.

European liberals and ALDE member parties will stand with Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) to defend the democratic rights of the Hong Kong people.

As a co-signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration we welcome the UK Government’s citizenship offer to Hong Kong citizens, but all Hong Kongers must have their rights and freedoms protected, regardless of BNO status.

China’s adoption of the new security law for Hong Kong is a violation of liberties and undermines ‘One Country, Two Systems’. As Liberals, we #StandWithHongKong 🇭🇰 for democracy and freedom.

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Read our statement: https://t.co/KMEr2mS7Ow#ALDEact pic.twitter.com/LrK7X9ggxb

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) July 3, 2020