The foreign ministry is calling on China to keep its pledge to uphold freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. That’s the word from Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Joanne Ou on Tuesday.
Ou was responding to China’s planned introduction of a national security law in the former British colony. The law could criminalize acts of secession, sedition and terrorism.
Ou said the foreign ministry is paying close attention to the situation in Hong Kong and is deeply concerned. She called on Beijing to engage in dialogue with Hong Kong’s people. She said the key to gaining public confidence is responding to their demands for freedom and democracy.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, President Tsai Ing-wen said Hong Kong’s freedom, democracy and judicial independence will be severely eroded if the law is passed. Tsai also said the law would break China’s pledge to allow Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy.