Hong Kong protests: Foreign Secretary's statement
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for calm and urged the Hong Kong government to listen to concerns about its proposed extradition laws.
Protesters occupy a road as they attend a rally against an extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019. Photo: DALE DE LA REY/AFP/Getty Images
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
The ongoing protests in Hong Kong are a clear sign of significant public concern about the proposed changes to extradition laws. I call on all sides to remain calm and peaceful.
I urge the Hong Kong government to listen to the concerns of its people and its friends in the international community and to pause and reflect on these controversial measures. It is essential that the authorities engage in meaningful dialogue and take steps to preserve Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy, which underpin its international reputation. Upholding the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, provided for in the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration, is vital to Hong Kong’s future success.