By Kiran Stacey, Political Correspondent
Britain has urged China to guarantee a “meaningful advance for democracy” in Hong Kong as thousands continue to occupy the territory’s streets in protest against Beijing’s plans for electoral reform.
Hours after the Hong Kong authorities removed heavily armed riot police from the streets, the British Foreign Office released a rare statement on the issue, calling on both sides to carry on discussing China’s controversial proposals.
A government spokesperson said: “The British government is concerned about the situation in Hong Kong and is monitoring events carefully.”
In a carefully calibrated statement designed to show support for the protesters while avoiding causing offence in Beijing, the person added: “Hong Kong’s prosperity and security are underpinned by its fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to demonstrate. It is important for Hong Kong to preserve these rights and for Hong Kong people to exercise them within the law.”
The protests are in response to China’s plans to place strict limits on who can stand for election to be chief executive of the territory, which would make it impossible for critics of Beijing to run.
Hong Kong’s political system is underpinned by the agreement signed between China and the UK which led to Britain handing over control of the territory in 1997.
But British officials say that nothing Beijing is proposing breaks the joint agreement, and point out that Britain did not offer universal suffrage to choose a chief executive either. They describe their approach as “softly-softly”.
The British government is treading a difficult line in its response, between supporting democracy and maintaining its relationship with China, having made a pitch to do more business with the country.
On a recent tour of China, David Cameron, the prime minister, said: “I think it’s a positive sign of economic strength that we are open and welcome to Chinese investment.”
But Britain’s lack of willingness to criticise China over human rights, especially in Hong Kong, has drawn criticism. Lord Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, told the Financial Times in July: “The joint declaration was an international agreement . . . between China and Britain guaranteeing Hong Kong’s freedoms and pluralism under the rule of law for 50 years.
“It is wholly reasonable for Hong Kong citizens to express concerns to both signatories if they think the terms of that joint declaration are being questioned or undermined.”
Westminster MPs have also expressed concern at the UK government’s approach. Rory Stewart, the Conservative chair of the cross-party defence select committee, told the Financial Times: “We have a special relationship with Hong Kong and we need to find a way of putting as much energy as we can, politically and diplomatically, into supporting them.”
Officials say they are working behind the scenes to ensure there is a transition to proper democracy, but warn against what they call “megaphone diplomacy”, which they say will only box in Beijing and leave China less willing to negotiate.
Sir Richard Ottaway, chair of the foreign affairs committee, said: “If the UK is not satisfied that the undertakings in the joint declaration are being upheld they should register a protest. But we have to be honest and recognise we are in a weak negotiating position, and registering a protest is about all we can do.”
Britain hopes China will surprise many western powers by relaxing its rules in the future to allow a slate of candidates for the chief executive position that is more pluralistic than many expect. But officials also admit that the UK has little influence over Beijing on the issue, either through diplomacy or the terms of the joint declaration.
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