U.S. condemns China’s move to further reduce Hong Kong political participation

The United States strongly condemns moves by China to further reduce political participation and representation in Hong Kong and is deeply concerned by a second delay in the territory’s Legislative Council elections,the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

“We are deeply concerned by these changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system, which defy the will of people in Hong Kong andd eny Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance,” a State Department spokesman said in an email when asked about thechanges finalised on Tuesday.

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The sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system willdrastically curb democratic representation as authorities seek to ensure “patriots” rule the global financial hub.

The measures are part of Beijing’s efforts to consolidateits increasingly authoritarian grip on Hong Kong following the imposition of a national security law in June, which critics seeas a tool to crush dissent.

Britain said the changes breached a 1984 Joint Declaration signed by then Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in which Hong Kong’s autonomy was guaranteed under a “one country, two systems” agreement.

The U.S. spokesman, who did not want to be identified by name, said Beijing must uphold its international obligations under the Joint Declaration.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the changes would be submitted to the territory’s Legislative Council by mid-Apriland she expected to see them passed by the end of May.

Legislative Council elections, already postponed once toSeptember with the government citing coronavirus, would be held in December, she said.

“We are … deeply concerned by the delay of the SeptemberLegCo elections for the second time,” the U.S. spokesman said.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and announced an end to the special economic treatment the territory had long enjoyed under U.S. law