MEDIA RELEASE: 201 Parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries call for more governments to unite against Beijing’s ‘flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration’

MEDIA RELEASE: 201 Parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries call for more governments to unite against Beijing’s ‘flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration’24 May 2020As Australian, Canadian and UK Foreign Ministers issue a joint statement on Beijing’s breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a cross-party international grouping 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 more sympathetic governments to unite against this ‘flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration’.Led by the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten, and the former UK Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the grouping 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 United Kingdom 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,

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”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. As 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 KongRt. Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence SecretaryAustraliaMembers of ParliamentKevin Andrews MP, Former Australian Defence Minister, Chairman of the Human Rights sub-committee of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and TradeVicki Dunne MPAndrew Hastie MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, AustraliaIan Goodenough MPPeter Khalil MPJanelle Saffin MPDave Sharma MPPhillip Thompson MPTim Wilson MPMembers of the SenateSenator Eric Abetz, former Leader of the Government in the SenateSenator Alex AnticSenator Slade BrockmanSenator Matthew Canavan, former Minister for ResourcesSenator Claire ChandlerSenator David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, former Assistant Minister for DefenceSenator Kimberley Kitching, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government AccountabilitySenator Matthew O’SullivanSenator James PatersonSenator Tony SheldonSenator Amanda StokerNew ZealandSimeon Brown MPMarama Davidson MP, co-leader of the Green PartySimon O’Connor MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade CommitteeUSAMembers of the SenateSenator Benjamin L Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business CommitteeSenator Ted Cruz, Member of the Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeSenator Edward J Markey, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity PolicySenator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeSenator Marco Rubio, Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence CommitteeSenator Josh HawleyMembers of the House of Representatives Congressman Robert B AderholtCongressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, House Foreign Affairs CommitteeCongressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign AffairsCongressman Mike GallagherCongressman Vicky HartzlerCongressman Michael T McCaul, ranking member of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign AffairsCongressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on ChinaCongressman Adam B Schiff, Chairman of the US House Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceCongressman Adam Smith, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Armed ServicesCongressman Christopher Smith, former Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs CommitteeCongressman Tom SuozziCongressman Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign AffairsFormer AmbassadorsGrover Joseph Rees, former USA Ambassador to East TimorUKMembers of ParliamentDebbie Abrahams MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Work and PensionsGareth Bacon MPAndrew Bowie MPAndrew Bridgen MPAnthony Browne MPFiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights CommissionChris Bryant MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs CommitteeAlistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs SpokesmanWendy Chamberlain MPSarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development CommitteeDaisy Cooper MPRt. Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate ChangeGeraint Davies MPDehenna Davison MPStephen Double MPPeter Dowd MP, former Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryTim Farron MP, former Leader of the Liberal DemocratsSimon Fell MPRt. Hon Liam Fox MP, former Defence Secretary and International Trade SecretaryRt. Hon Damian Green MP, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Cabinet OfficeJonathan Gullis MPAndrew Gwynne MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentAntony Higginbottom MPWera Hobhouse MPKevin Hollinrake MPChristine Jardine MPImran Khan MPDaniel Kawczynski MPCraig Mackinlay MPPaul Maynard MPStewart M McDonald MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs CommitteeGagan Mohindra MPLayla Moran MPKieran Mullen MPSarah Olney MPTom Randall MPRob Roberts MPBob Seely MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs CommitteeAndrew Selous MPRt. Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Leader of the Conservative PartyAlyn Smith MP, Scottish Nationalist Party Spokesman on International AffairsJamie Stone MPTom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select CommitteeJamie Wallis MPJames Wild MPMunira Wilson MPMembers of the House of LordsLord Alton of LiverpoolBaroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green PartyRt. Hon Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell, former Speaker of the House of CommonsLord Hannay of Chiswick, former UK Ambassador to the United NationsLord Hogan-Howe of Sheffield, former Metropolitan Police CommissionerRt. Hon Lord Howard of Lympne, former Home Secretary and Leader of the Conservative PartyBaroness Kennedy QC of the ShawsRt. Hon Lord King of Bridgewater, former Defence Secretary and Northern Ireland SecretaryFormer Members of ParliamentRt. Hon John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons and former MPRt. Hon David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary and MPRt. Hon Rory Stewart, former Secretary of State for International Development and former MPRt. Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Justice Secretary and former MPFormer AmbassadorsSir David Manning, former UK Ambassador to the United States of AmericaMembers of the Scottish ParliamentRoss Greer MSP, Scottish Green External Affairs SpokespersonCanadaMembers of ParliamentLeona Alleslev, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of Foreign AffairsJames Bezan, MP, Shadow Minister for National DefenceKenny Chiu MPEd Fast MPGarnett Genuis MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China RelationsPeter Mackay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs CanadaErin O’Toole MPJohn Williamson MPMembers of the SenateSenator Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the SenateSenator Jim MunsonSenator Thanh Hai NgoFormer MinistersIrwin Colter, former Minister of Justice and Attorney GeneralDavid Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and former MPFormer PremiersBob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Federal MPEUFormer EU Special EnvoysJan Figel, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and EU Special Envoy for Promotion Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EUMembers of the European ParliamentPetras 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 PolandMichael 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 AssemblyEugen 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 LithuaniaMiriam 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 EstoniaPeter 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 BelgiumGermanyMargarete Bause MP, Green Party Spokeswoman for Human Rights and Humanitarian AidPeter Heidt MPEckhard Gnodtke MPGyde Jensen MP, the Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid CommitteeSwedenJoar Forssell MPHampus Hagman MPDavid Josefsson MPKerstin Lundgren MPFrederik Malm MPNiels Paarup-Petersen MPLorentz Tovatt MPDenmarkViggo Fischer MPIrelandSenator Ronan MullenLithuaniaMantas Adomenas MPArvydas Anusauskas MPAudronius Azubalis MP, former Minister of Foreign AffairsLaurynas Kasciunas MPGabrielius Landsbergis MPRadvilė Morkunaite-Mikuleniene MPEmanuelis Zingeris MP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic DevelopmentŽygimantas Pavilionis MP, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of AmericaSlovakia Members of ParliamentAlojz Baránik MPJán Benčík MPPeter Cmorej MPOndrej Dostál MPGábor Grendel MP, Deputy SpeakerJarmila Halgašová MPRadovan Kazda MPMiroslav Kollár MPVladimíra Marcinková MPPeter Osuský MPPeter Pollák MPJuraj Šeliga MP, Deputy SpeakerAndrej Stančík MPRomana Tabák MPMarián Viskupič MPAnna Zemanová MPMiroslav Žiak MPJana Žitňanská MPFormer Member of ParliamentFrantišek Šebej, former MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs CommitteeCzech Republic Jan Lipavsky MPMalaysiaAndrew Khoo, Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya in Malaysia, former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council MalaysiaCharles Santiago MP, Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human RightsMyanmarU Kyaw Min San, Member of the Bago Regional Parliament and former legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists OfficeSouth KoreaJung-Hoon Lee, former Ambassador for Human RightsIndiaDr John Dayal, former President of the All India Catholic Union and Member of the National Integration CouncilIndonesiaRafendi Djamin, former Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human RightsYuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights