Hong Kong government lambasts UK’s latest ‘despicable’ 6-month monitoring report on city

Hong Kong authorities have hit back at a critical report by the British government, saying the UK is “despicably” putting politics above the rule of law and insisting the country has no right to interfere in the city’s “law-based governance”.

The strongly-worded statement issued on Thursday night came swiftly after the release of the UK’s latest six-month monitoring report on Hong Kong, which also suggested China had failed in its commitment to the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984.

“The HKSAR Government strongly condemns and rejects the UK’s attempt through its so-called six-monthly report to make misleading and irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong matters, wantonly put politics above the rule of law, and interfere in Hong Kong’s law-based governance by despicable political manoeuvres,” a government spokesman said.

In the latest six-month parliamentary report on Hong Kong released by the UK government on Thursday night, foreign secretary David Lammy said the city’s administration had prioritised national security over freedoms and rights of residents, and questioned if China was committed to promises made in the Joint Declaration signed 40 years ago.

The declaration, signed by Britain and China to settle the future of Hong Kong, was an agreement under which China would reassume control of the city.