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Britain Accuses China of Violating Treaty in Hong Kong Bookseller’s Case Britain Accuses China of Violating Treaty in Hong Kong Bookseller’s Case
(about 3 hours later)
BEIJING — Britain has issued its strongest public criticism of China to date over the apparent secretive abduction of a British citizen, Lee Bo, from its former colony, Hong Kong, to the Chinese mainland.BEIJING — Britain has issued its strongest public criticism of China to date over the apparent secretive abduction of a British citizen, Lee Bo, from its former colony, Hong Kong, to the Chinese mainland.
The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said in a report released on Thursday that the case of Mr. Lee, a bookseller, was a “serious breach” of treaty commitments between Beijing and London that were meant to preserve Hong Kong’s legal autonomy.The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said in a report released on Thursday that the case of Mr. Lee, a bookseller, was a “serious breach” of treaty commitments between Beijing and London that were meant to preserve Hong Kong’s legal autonomy.
“I am particularly concerned by the situation of Mr. Lee Po, a British citizen,” Mr. Hammond said in the report, using an alternate spelling of Mr. Lee’s name. The report is the latest of the British government’s assessments, issued to Parliament every six months, about the state of Hong Kong and of Britain’s ties to its former colony, which has been a special administrative region of China since reverting to Chinese rule in 1997. “I am particularly concerned by the situation of Mr. Lee Po, a British citizen,” Mr. Hammond said in the report, using an alternate spelling of Mr. Lee’s name. The report is the latest of the British government’s assessments, issued to Parliament every six months, about the state of Hong Kong and of Britain’s ties to the special administrative region that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
“We urge the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to take the necessary steps to maintain confidence in the system and the sanctity of the rights, freedoms and values it upholds,” the report concluded, referring to Mr. Lee’s case and what it suggested were other worrisome signs of erosion of Hong Kong’s special status.“We urge the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to take the necessary steps to maintain confidence in the system and the sanctity of the rights, freedoms and values it upholds,” the report concluded, referring to Mr. Lee’s case and what it suggested were other worrisome signs of erosion of Hong Kong’s special status.
Mr. Lee is one of five men connected to Mighty Current Media, a Hong Kong publisher of gossipy books about Communist Party leaders, who have disappeared since October, igniting protests from Hong Kong residents who believe that they were the victims of secretive abductions orchestrated by the mainland authorities. Mr. Lee is one of five men connected to Mighty Current Media, a Hong Kong publisher of gossipy books about Communist Party leaders, who have disappeared since October. Their cases have ignited protests from Hong Kong residents who say they believe that they were the victims of secretive abductions orchestrated by the mainland authorities.
The Chinese police confirmed in January that Mr. Lee was in China, and they issued letters, supposedly from Mr. Lee, saying that he went there voluntarily and did not want to see Hong Kong officials who have asked to visit him. Those claims have prompted disbelief in Hong Kong, especially among democrats who say Beijing is intent on curtailing the semiautonomous city’s freedoms, which they say are anathema to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. The Chinese police confirmed in January that Mr. Lee was in China, and they released letters, purportedly from Mr. Lee, saying that he had gone there voluntarily and did not want to meet with Hong Kong officials who have asked to see him. Those claims have prompted disbelief in Hong Kong, especially among those who say that Beijing is intent on curtailing the semiautonomous city’s freedoms, which they say are anathema to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
In his report, Mr. Hammond indicated that he, too, did not believe the Chinese authorities’ explanation. In his report, Mr. Hammond indicated that he did not believe the Chinese authorities’ explanation, either.
“The full facts of the case remain unclear, but our current information indicates that Mr. Lee was involuntarily removed to the mainland without any due process under Hong Kong S.A.R. law,” Mr. Hammond said, using an abbreviation for special administrative region. “This constitutes a serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and undermines the principle of ‘one country, two systems,’ which assures Hong Kong residents of the protection of the Hong Kong legal system.”“The full facts of the case remain unclear, but our current information indicates that Mr. Lee was involuntarily removed to the mainland without any due process under Hong Kong S.A.R. law,” Mr. Hammond said, using an abbreviation for special administrative region. “This constitutes a serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and undermines the principle of ‘one country, two systems,’ which assures Hong Kong residents of the protection of the Hong Kong legal system.”
The joint declaration, signed by Britain and China in 1984, was one of the foundational documents intended to ensure that Hong Kong retained its own robust legal system and economic and political freedoms for decades after its return to Chinese sovereignty. That arrangement is known as one country, two systems. The joint declaration, signed by Britain and China in 1984, was one of the foundational documents intended to ensure that Hong Kong retained its own robust legal system and economic and political freedoms for decades after its return to China.
Mr. Hammond’s words were tougher than earlier comments he had made about Mr. Lee’s case. During a visit to Beijing in early January, Mr. Hammond said suggestions that Chinese agents were behind the bookseller’s disappearance amounted to speculation, The Guardian reported.Mr. Hammond’s words were tougher than earlier comments he had made about Mr. Lee’s case. During a visit to Beijing in early January, Mr. Hammond said suggestions that Chinese agents were behind the bookseller’s disappearance amounted to speculation, The Guardian reported.
In the report issued on Thursday, Mr. Hammond said that Britain had “called, in our contacts with the Chinese government at the highest level, for Mr. Lee’s immediate return to Hong Kong.”In the report issued on Thursday, Mr. Hammond said that Britain had “called, in our contacts with the Chinese government at the highest level, for Mr. Lee’s immediate return to Hong Kong.”
Mr. Lee, who also goes by the name Paul Lee, disappeared on Dec. 30, after four other men tied to Mighty Current had also gone missing. A co-owner of the publishing company, Gui Minhai, is a Swedish citizen who disappeared from his vacation home in Thailand in October. In January, Mr. Gui was shown on Chinese television news saying that he had returned to China willingly, out of contrition over violating a probationary sentence for a deadly drunken-driving accident there in 2003. Mr. Lee, who also goes by the name Paul Lee, disappeared on Dec. 30, after four other men tied to Mighty Current had also disappeared. A co-owner of the publishing company, Gui Minhai, is a Swedish citizen who disappeared from his vacation home in Thailand in October. In January, Mr. Gui was shown on Chinese television news saying that he had returned to China willingly, out of contrition over violating a probationary sentence for a deadly drunken-driving accident there in 2003.
Mr. Lee’s case was particularly alarming to Hong Kong residents, however, because unlike the four others, he was last seen in Hong Kong, suggesting he was abducted there.Mr. Lee’s case was particularly alarming to Hong Kong residents, however, because unlike the four others, he was last seen in Hong Kong, suggesting he was abducted there.
The report from Mr. Hammond noted that there are about 3.7 million British passport holders in Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.3 million. Before Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty, many residents obtained passports from other countries, especially Britain and Canada, fearing that Beijing’s influence would undermine their way of life.The report from Mr. Hammond noted that there are about 3.7 million British passport holders in Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.3 million. Before Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty, many residents obtained passports from other countries, especially Britain and Canada, fearing that Beijing’s influence would undermine their way of life.
The Chinese government has yet to respond to Mr. Hammond’s statements on Thursday. But that response seems sure to be an angry one.The Chinese government has yet to respond to Mr. Hammond’s statements on Thursday. But that response seems sure to be an angry one.
Chinese officials, especially since pro-democracy demonstrations swept Hong Kong in 2014, have been increasingly dismissive of assertions that the joint declaration gives Britain a special say in the future of its former colony. They have also cast doubt on the extent of Hong Kong’s legal autonomy. In September, the Chinese government’s chief official in Hong Kong, Zhang Xiaoming, said that the region’s judicial independence was not protected by the idea of a separation of powers, a claim that drew sharp criticism from the Hong Kong Bar Association.Chinese officials, especially since pro-democracy demonstrations swept Hong Kong in 2014, have been increasingly dismissive of assertions that the joint declaration gives Britain a special say in the future of its former colony. They have also cast doubt on the extent of Hong Kong’s legal autonomy. In September, the Chinese government’s chief official in Hong Kong, Zhang Xiaoming, said that the region’s judicial independence was not protected by the idea of a separation of powers, a claim that drew sharp criticism from the Hong Kong Bar Association.
The Hong Kong government, led by Leung Chun-ying, the chief executive who is loyal to Beijing, distanced itself from the British criticism.
“Any suggestion that Mr. Lee was involuntarily removed to the mainland remains speculative,” the press office of the Hong Kong government said by email on Friday. But the email added that the government took the case very seriously, and that Hong Kong would continue to investigate what happened to Mr. Lee.
In another sign of Beijing’s growing willingness to speak out on Hong Kong’s political fractures, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday endorsed the Hong Kong police’s response to protesters who resisted official efforts to shut down food stalls set up for the Lunar New Year. The violent clashes early Tuesday resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests; the protesters included “localist” foes of Beijing’s influence, who said the street stalls were a symbol of Hong Kong traditions under threat from heavy-handed government.In another sign of Beijing’s growing willingness to speak out on Hong Kong’s political fractures, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday endorsed the Hong Kong police’s response to protesters who resisted official efforts to shut down food stalls set up for the Lunar New Year. The violent clashes early Tuesday resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests; the protesters included “localist” foes of Beijing’s influence, who said the street stalls were a symbol of Hong Kong traditions under threat from heavy-handed government.
Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on the ministry website that the violence had been instigated by “localist radical separatists.”Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on the ministry website that the violence had been instigated by “localist radical separatists.”
“Hong Kong is a law-based society,” Mr. Hong said. “The Chinese central government believes and firmly supports the Hong Kong S.A.R. government and the police in protecting public safety, protecting Hong Kong residents and their property, and punishing illegal and criminal activities in accordance with the law.”“Hong Kong is a law-based society,” Mr. Hong said. “The Chinese central government believes and firmly supports the Hong Kong S.A.R. government and the police in protecting public safety, protecting Hong Kong residents and their property, and punishing illegal and criminal activities in accordance with the law.”