Hong Kong is a Former British Colony: Dominic Raab, FS Britain

The proposed national security law for Hong Kong seems to be a gross violation of China’s international obligations. This law was proposed by China.

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Britain's foreign secretary, Dominic Raab said, “We strongly oppose such an authoritarian law being imposed by China in breach of international law”.

Actually, the Hong Kong is a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, under a “One Country, Two Systems” agreement that guarantees the city a high degree of autonomy. China’s largely ceremonial parliament voted last week to bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and develop and enact national security legislation on its own for the semi-autonomous territory. Critics, including governments in Britain, the U.S. and Canada, are worried that the laws would erode liberties such as free speech and opposition political activities.

Only to hold China to its international commitments, just as China expects of the United Kingdom. Raab also pledged to stand by Hong Kong and uphold Britain’s historic responsibilities to the territory.

But if not, the U.K. will not just look the other way when it comes to the people of Hong Kong. Britain’s government announced last week that if China follows through with the proposed security law, British officials would open pathways to British citizenship for those Hong Kong residents who hold British National (Overseas) passports. Beijing’s resolve to push through the laws against secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong appears to have been hardened by the months of often-violent anti-government protests in the city last year, and a determination to prevent them from reigniting this summer.