Boris Johnson backs Hong Kong protesters ‘every inch of the way’
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Boris Johnson says he backs Hong Kong protesters “every inch of the way” as he urged China not to do away with the city state’s system of government.
The frontrunner to be the UK’s next Prime Minister spoke out after the former British colony became gripped by mass protests against China’s increasing grip on the city.
The demonstrations were sparked by a row over a change to the extradition laws which would make it easier for China to prosecute activists on the mainland.
The law change has been suspended, but many are still angry at attempts by Beijing to take greater control of the city’s governance.
Under the terms of the handover of Hong Kong to China by the UK in 1997, the city’s capitalist system can not be changed by Beijing until at least 2047.
Johnson, the former foreign secretary, spoke out in support of the protesters, telling Reuters: “The people of Hong Kong are perfectly within their rights to be very sceptical, very anxious about proposals for extradition to the mainland that could be politically motivated, that could be arbitrary and could infringe their human rights.”
He added: “So yes I do support them and I will happily speak up for them and back them every inch of the way.
“And I would stress to our friends in Beijing that the ‘one country, two systems’ approach has worked, is working and should not be cast aside.”
Johnson’s comments are an echo of those by his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt, who succeeded him as foreign secretary.
Hunt said on Monday the UK stands “four square behind” the people of Hong Kong and the terms of the city’s handover from the UK to China.
“There will be serious consequences if that international binding legal agreement were not to be honoured,” he warned.
China did not take kindly to Hunt’s words, with the country’s London embassy lodging an official protest with the London embassy.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said took aim at Hunt, saying: “He seems to be fantasising in the faded glory of British colonialism and in the bad habit of gesticulating while looking down on other countries’ affairs.”