The Spectator

Letters | 11 July 2019

issue 13 July 2019

Crisis in Hong Kong

Sir: It was inspiring to see Hong Kong protesters raising the British flag as a symbol of freedom and liberation — a vivid image of the fondness in which it is held, even more than two decades after our surrender of the territory (‘A question of liberty’, 6 July). However, raising the colonial flag in the legislative chamber was no mere nostalgia but also a challenge to our government. Are we going to stand by today and betray that trust?

The British government might be wary of criticising Beijing’s overreach in Hong Kong in case China tightens the screws further against ‘foreign interference in internal affairs’. But that horse has long since bolted. China has been making a total mockery of the freedoms guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration for years. The ‘Special Administrative Region’ was established by international agreement and China’s behaviour is an international problem.

The crisis in Hong Kong is a litmus test for our post-Brexit government.

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