Coalition of 201 Parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries unite against Beijing’s new Hong Kong measures

A CROSS-PARTY international coalition of 201 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries, including 20 Australian MPs and Senators, today issued a statement decrying Beijing’s "unilateral introduction of national security legislation in Hong Kong" and calling for sympathetic governments to unite against this "flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration".

Led by the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Christopher Patten, and the former UK Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the coalition comprises of a depth of expertise and experience including former prime ministers, foreign secretaries, defence ministers, prominent legal and human rights experts, diplomats, Senators, and Members of Parliament.  

Lord Patten of Barnes said, "The statement shows growing and widespread international outrage at the decision by the Chinese Government to unilaterally impose national security legislation in Hong Kong. The breadth of support, which spans all political parties and four continents, reflects both the severity of the situation and ongoing unified international support for the principle of one-country, two-systems."

Signatories include:

• the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the United States, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Congressman Eliot Engel, Tom Tugendhat, Senator David Fawcett and Simon O’Connor.

They were joined by eminent and notable signatories from the UK including:

• two former Leaders of the UK Conservative Party, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Lord Howard
• two former Speakers of the House of Commons, Baroness Boothroyd and John Bercow
• three former Defence Secretaries, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Lord King and Liam Fox
• the former and current leaders of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron and Ed Davey
• the former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green, and Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart
• the Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
• and former leader of the UK Green Party Baroness Bennett.

Former UK Foreign Secretary and Hong Kong Watch Patron, Sir Malcolm Rifkind said,  “This is the most serious threat to the people of Hong Kong that there has been from the Chinese Government since 1997. The people of Hong Kong need, and deserve, our support”

Other signatories include:

• the Chair of the US House of Representatives committees on Armed Services Congressman Adam Smith
• Ranking Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Robert Menendez
• the Co-Chairs of the US Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman James McGovern, and the CECC’s former Co-Chair Chris Smith
• the Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Malaysian MP Charles Santiago, and the Chair of the German Bundestag Human Rights Committee Gyde Jensen,
• the former Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt,
• the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kibulius,
• the former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Jan Figel,
• the Chair of the European Parliament Delegations for Relations with China, Reinhard Bütikofer,
• the former Foreign Ministers of Poland and Estonia, Anna Fotyga and Urmas Paet,

This international coalition brought together to stand in solidarity with Hong Kong spans from North America, the UK, and Europe to South Asia and Australia. It includes policymakers from across the political divide, encompassing Liberal, Conservative, Socialist, and those of no particular ideology. It is a demonstration that concerns for the future of Hong Kong cut across both political ideology and geographic boundaries.

Commenting on the publication of the international statement, Hong Kong Watch’s co-founder and chair, Benedict Rogers said, "The death of democracy in Hong Kong should be of grave concern to us all. We hope that this international statement from policymakers across the political and geographic divide will send a clear message to Beijing that the world will not meekly consent to the dismantling of the ‘One, Country Two Systems’ Model overnight.”

Joint Statement from 201 Signatories

We, the co-signed, write to express grave concerns about the unilateral introduction of national security legislation by Beijing in Hong Kong. 

This is a comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. The integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread. 

It is the genuine grievances of ordinary Hong Kongers that are driving protests. Draconian laws will only escalate the situation further, jeopardising Hong Kong’s future as an open Chinese international city. 

If the international community cannot trust Beijing to keep its word when it comes to Hong Kong, people will be reluctant to take its word on other matters. Sympathetic governments must unite to say that this flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration cannot be tolerated.

 

Alphabetical list of signatories

Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, former Governor of Hong Kong

Rt. Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary

AUSTRALIA

Members of Parliament

Kevin Andrews MP, Former Australian Defence Minister, Chairman of the Human Rights sub-committee of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade

Vicki Dunne MP

Andrew Hastie MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, Australia

Ian Goodenough MP

Peter Khalil MP

Janelle Saffin MP

Dave Sharma MP

Phillip Thompson MP

Tim Wilson MP

Members of the Senate

Senator Eric Abetz, former Leader of the Government in the Senate

Senator Alex Antic

Senator Slade Brockman

Senator Matthew Canavan, former Minister for Resources

Senator Claire Chandler

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, former Assistant Minister for Defence

Senator Kimberley Kitching, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability

Senator Matthew O’Sullivan

Senator James Paterson

Senator Tony Sheldon

Senator Amanda Stoker

NEW ZEALAND

Simeon Brown MP

Marama Davidson MP, co-leader of the Green Party

Simon O’Connor MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee

USA

Members of the Senate

Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee

Senator Ted Cruz, Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Senator Edward J Markey, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy

Senator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Senator Marco Rubio, Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee

Senator Josh Hawley

Members of the House of Representatives

Congressman Robert B Aderholt

Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, House Foreign Affairs Committee

Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Congressman Vicky Hartzler

Congressman Michael T McCaul, ranking member of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China

Congressman Adam B Schiff, Chairman of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services

Congressman Christopher Smith, former Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee

Congressman Tom Suozzi

Congressman Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Former Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees, former USA Ambassador to East Timor

UK

Members of Parliament

Debbie Abrahams MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Gareth Bacon MP

Andrew Bowie MP

Andrew Bridgen MP

Anthony Browne MP

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission

Chris Bryant MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesman

Wendy Chamberlain MP

Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee

Daisy Cooper MP

Rt. Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Geraint Davies MP

Dehenna Davison MP

Stephen Double MP

Peter Dowd MP, former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Tim Farron MP, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Simon Fell MP

Rt. Hon Liam Fox MP, former Defence Secretary and International Trade Secretary

Rt. Hon Damian Green MP, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Jonathan Gullis MP

Andrew Gwynne MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Antony Higginbottom MP

Wera Hobhouse MP

Kevin Hollinrake MP

Christine Jardine MP

Imran Khan MP

Daniel Kawczynski MP

Craig Mackinlay MP

Paul Maynard MP

Stewart M McDonald MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Gagan Mohindra MP

Layla Moran MP

Kieran Mullen MP

Sarah Olney MP

Tom Randall MP

Rob Roberts MP

Bob Seely MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Andrew Selous MP

Rt. Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Leader of the Conservative Party

Alyn Smith MP, Scottish Nationalist Party Spokesman on International Affairs

Jamie Stone MP

Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Jamie Wallis MP

James Wild MP

Munira Wilson MP

Members of the House of Lords

Lord Alton of Liverpool

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party

Rt. Hon Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell, former Speaker of the House of Commons

Lord Hannay of Chiswick, former UK Ambassador to the United Nations

Lord Hogan-Howe of Sheffield, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner

Rt. Hon Lord Howard of Lympne, former Home Secretary and Leader of the Conservative Party

Baroness Kennedy QC of the Shaws

Rt. Hon Lord King of Bridgewater, former Defence Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary

Former Members of Parliament

Rt. Hon John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons and former MP

Rt. Hon David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary and MP

Rt. Hon Rory Stewart, former Secretary of State for International Development and former MP

Rt. Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Justice Secretary and former MP

Former Ambassadors

Sir David Manning, former UK Ambassador to the United States of America

Members of the Scottish Parliament

Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green External Affairs Spokesperson

CANADA

Members of Parliament

Leona Alleslev, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs

James Bezan, MP, Shadow Minister for National Defence

Kenny Chiu MP

Ed Fast MP

Garnett Genuis MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China Relations

Peter Mackay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada

Erin O’Toole MP

John Williamson MP

Members of the Senate

Senator Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the Senate

Senator Jim Munson

Senator Thanh Hai Ngo

Former Ministers

Irwin Colter, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General

David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and former MP

Former Premiers

Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Federal MP

EU

Former EU Special Envoys

Jan Figel, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and EU Special Envoy for Promotion Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EU

Members of the European Parliament

Petras Austrevicuis MEP (Renew Europe, Lithuania)

Jose Ramon Bauza Diaz MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)

Francois-Xavier Bellamy MEP (European People’s Party, France)

Vladimír Bilčík MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Reinhard Buetikofer MEP (Greens, Germany)

Katalin Cseh MEP (Renew Europe, Hungary)

Pascal Durand MEP (Renew Europe, France)

Engin Eroglu MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)

Anna Fotyga MEP, (European Conservatives & Reformists) Poland former Foreign Secretary of Poland

Michael Gahler MEP (European People’s Party, Germany)

Evelyne Gebhardt MEP (Socialists & Democrats, Germany)

Markéta Gregorová MEP (Greens, Czech Republic)

Bernard Guetta MEP (Renew Europe, France)

Rasa Jukneviciene MEP, (European People’s Party, Lithuania) former Minister of Defence of Lithuania and former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Eugen Jurzyca MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)

Karin Karlsbro MEP (Renew Europe, Sweden)

Moritz Körner MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)

Andrius Kibilius MEP (European People’s Party, Lithuania), former Prime Minister of Lithuania

Miriam Lexmann MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Javier Nart MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)

Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)

Urmas Paet MEP (Renew Europe, Estonia), former Foreign Secretary of Estonia

Peter Pollák MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Michaela Šojdrová MEP (European People’s Party, Czech Republic)

Ivan Štefanec MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Romana Tomc MEP (European People’s Party, Slovenia)

Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium)

Guy Verhofstadt MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium), former Prime Minister of Belgium

GERMANY

Margarete Bause MP, Green Party Spokeswoman for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid

Peter Heidt MP

Eckhard Gnodtke MP

Gyde Jensen MP, the Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee

SWEDEN

Joar Forssell MP

Hampus Hagman MP

David Josefsson MP

Kerstin Lundgren MP

Frederik Malm MP

Niels Paarup-Petersen MP

Lorentz Tovatt MP

DENMARK

Viggo Fischer MP

IRELAND

Senator Ronan Mullen

LITHUANIA

Mantas Adomenas MP

Arvydas Anusauskas MP

Audronius Azubalis MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Laurynas Kasciunas MP

Gabrielius Landsbergis MP

Radvilė Morkunaite-Mikuleniene MP

Emanuelis Zingeris MP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development

Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of America

SLOVAKIA

Members of Parliament

Alojz Baránik MP

Ján Benčík MP

Peter Cmorej MP

Ondrej Dostál MP

Gábor Grendel MP, Deputy Speaker

Jarmila Halgašová MP

Radovan Kazda MP

Miroslav Kollár MP

Vladimíra Marcinková MP

Peter Osuský MP

Peter Pollák MP

Juraj Šeliga MP, Deputy Speaker

Andrej Stančík MP

Romana Tabák MP

Marián Viskupič MP

Anna Zemanová MP

Miroslav Žiak MP

Jana Žitňanská MP

Former Member of Parliament

František Šebej, former MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

CZECH REPUBLIC

Jan Lipavsky MP

MALAYSIA

Andrew Khoo, Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya in Malaysia, former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council Malaysia

Charles Santiago MP, Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

MYANMAR

U Kyaw Min San, Member of the Bago Regional Parliament and former legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists Office

SOUTH KOREA

Jung-Hoon Lee, former Ambassador for Human Rights

INDIA

Dr John Dayal, former President of the All India Catholic Union and Member of the National Integration Council

INDONESIA

Rafendi Djamin, former Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights

 Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights

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