A cross-party international coalition of 897 parliamentarians and policymakers from 43 countries or territories [as of 12 June 2020] 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 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.  Please read more about the Statement, including the current list of signatories, here: https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2020/5/23/patten-led-group-of-198-parliamentarians-from-23-countries-decry-flagrant-breach-of-the-sino-british-joint-declaration.

Many PGA members have already signed the Statement in their personal capacities. Others have found complementary ways to #StandWithHongKong. To facilitate sign-on, please find below a link to have your name added to the list for this Statement facilitated by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Hong Kong Watch.

The Statement reads as follows:

Joint Statement from 897 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.