Hong Kong leader appointment violates democratic norms, EU foreign policy chief says

Brussels – The European Union’s overseas coverage chief on Sunday stated the anointment of a former safety chief as Hong Kong’s new chief violated democratic norms.

John Lee, 64, who oversaw the crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy motion, was appointed Hong Kong chief on Sunday by a small committee of Beijing loyalists.

“The European Union regrets this violation of democratic ideas and political pluralism and sees this choice course of as one more step within the dismantling of the ‘one nation, two methods’ precept,” Josep Borrell Fontelles stated in an announcement.

“The European Union attaches nice significance to the preservation of Hong Kong’s excessive diploma of autonomy in addition to respect for human rights and elementary freedoms, together with media freedom, democratic ideas and the rule of legislation, consistent with the Fundamental Legislation and with worldwide commitments,” it stated.

“The EU calls on Chinese language and Hong Kong authorities to abide by their nationwide and worldwide commitments, notably the last word intention of electing the Chief Govt and members of the Legislative Council by common suffrage.”

Lee, who’s beneath U.S. sanctions, was the one candidate within the Beijing-backed race to succeed outgoing chief Carrie Lam.

His appointment locations a safety official within the prime job for the primary time after a tumultuous few years for a metropolis battered by political unrest and debilitating pandemic controls.