Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2022 June 29 - July 5 [WORLD]

25 years after Hong Kong handover, China should end crackdown on human rights

It has been 25 years since Britain handed over its colony Hong Kong to China in 1997. The reversion of Hong Kong, the most populous remaining British colony, was in line with a 20th-century trend for ending colonial rule.

The Japanese Communist Party in a statement published at that time emphasized the historical significance of the return of Hong Kong and pointed out, "It is a matter of course that Hong Kong should be returned, but it is disputable whether the Chinese political and economic regime as-is should be applied to Hong Kong." The JCP called for the implementation of a "One Country, Two Systems" framework and for an advance of freedom and democracy.

China made a promise to the world to keep the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and a "high degree of autonomy" for another "50 years". However, in less than half of the 50 years, China broke its promise and is trampling on Hong Kong's freedom, democracy, and human rights. Hong Kong has now become a society where no one can have a say. The international community is severely criticizing China's suppression of human rights.

To place a ban on and criminalize people's criticism of the government through freedom of speech have nothing to do with socialism and communism. What China is doing is totally unworthy of being called a communist country. The JCP regards the human-rights suppression in Hong Kong as an international problem and has been demanding that the Chinese government stop its crackdown in Hong Kong without delay.

The JCP points out that the Chinese government itself promised Hong Kong the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association as well as a "high degree of autonomy" under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. The JCP criticizes China for reneging on this international pledge, demanding that the National Security Law over Hong Kong enforced in June 2020 be withdrawn.

Progress of liberties and human rights varies depending on countries. However, to encourage and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms is the duty of states regardless of their political, economic, and cultural system, according to the UN Vienna Declaration.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights codify human rights that each state should protect, and China itself agrees with these international arrangements. The Chinese government should comply with what it agrees.