Annual write-up cites concerns over Hong Kong’s universal suffrage, press freedom and academic freedom
JENNIFER.NGO@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 19 November, 2015, 11:49am
UPDATED : Thursday, 19 November, 2015, 11:49am
Pro-democracy lawmakers signalling their intention to vote against Beijing-backed political reform in June. Photo: AP
A joint US-UK investigation into China’s adherence to the Basic Law regarding Hong Kong since the city’s handover in 1997 was urged by a commission on US-China affairs in a report to the US Congress yesterday.
The annual report compiled by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted Hong Kong’s political turmoil over universal suffrage, press freedom and academic freedom. It urged the US congress to “engage parliamentarians from the United Kingdom in an interparliamentary review” over whether China had upheld promises made in the Basic Law “with specific attention to the rule of law, progress in achieving universal suffrage, and press freedom”.
“The United States and Hong Kong share many values, including respect for rule of law and for civil liberties,” the report stated. “To bolster Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, the US government encourages Beijing and Hong Kong to continue to work together to further Hong Kong’s democratic development in accordance with the Basic Law and the aspirations of the people of Hong Kong.”
READ MORE: Hong Kong press freedom index falls amid attacks on journalists, self-censorship
In its 27 pages dedicated to Hong Kong, the annual report highlighted the failed passage of electoral reform set out under Beijing’s rigid parameters as leading to even more fractured and polarised views on the issue.
The report also laid out serious concerns over the erosion of press freedom as Beijing wielded an “enormous economical and political influence in Hong Kong” and had exerted indirect pressure on the media, leading to more serious self-censorship, the report stated.
It was also reported that Hong Kong’s press freedom continued a 10-year downward trend, with the city’s ranking dropping from 61 to 70 among 180 countries, according to international organisation Reporters Without Borders. Incidents of violence against journalists had also not been dealt with, the report said.
The University of Hong Kong pro-vice chancellor appointment postponement debacle was noted as well. Academic freedom had been challenged, the report stated, with the controversy of alleged government interference “only one example of Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong academia”.
Concern was also voiced over increased risks as Hong Kong and mainland markets became more integrated despite China’s underdeveloped equity market, seen in recent stock market volatility and the intervention by the central government thereafter.
READ MORE: Hong Kong University appointment saga: has a shadow been cast over the campus?
The commission recommended that America’s national legislative body urge the US State Department to “increase its public diplomacy efforts” in Hong Kong to support press freedom, media independence and academic freedom, this in addition to setting up an interparliamentary review.
In response to the report’s recommendations, Hong Kong’s Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureausaid in a statement: “Foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of Hong Kong.”
The statement added that Hong Kong “has been exercising a high degree of autonomy”, which “demonstrates the successful implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle’.”
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1880429/us-congressional-report-calls-bilateral-probe-how-china
