Hong Kong’s courts in firing line as Beijing rewrites rulebook
Al JazeeraDec 22, 2022
The Facts
The UK on Thursday repeated its concerns over China’s approach to Hong Kong. In its twice-yearly report, the UK accused Beijing of eroding the territory's rights and freedoms and breaching the 1997 Sino-British Joint Declaration, under which the former British colony was returned to China.
In response, the Chinese embassy in Britain said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the report, which it said contained distorted facts. An embassy spokesperson said, “Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference."
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
The UK will continue to fight for Hong Kong because Britain made a promise during the transition of power and intends to keep it. By breaking this promise, China threatens both the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and the continued progress and prosperity of the Hong Kong district.
Pro-China narrative
Hong Kong has long been returned to China, and the UK has no right to continue imposing its colonial mindset. It’s the UK that’s undermining Hong Kong, and China discourages any meddling from the UK or other countries.
Cynical narrative
Even if the UK wanted to pressure Beijing, the options for legally requiring China to uphold its treaty are few, if not nil. The more powerful China gets, the less the international community can do. Even if the joint declaration is legally binding, no one is going to enforce it against China's will.