SENATOR THE HON DAVID FAWCETT
Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Senator for South Australia
201 Parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries call for more governments to unite against Beijing’s ‘flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration’
As 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,
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 Kong
Rt. Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary
Australia
Members of Parliament
Kevin Andrews MP, Former Australian Defence Minister, Chairman of the Human Rights sub-committee of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade
Vicki Dunne MP
Andrew Hastie MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, Australia
Ian Goodenough MP
Peter Khalil MP
Janelle Saffin MP
Dave Sharma MP
Phillip Thompson MP
Tim Wilson MP
Members of the Senate
Senator Eric Abetz, former Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator Alex Antic
Senator Slade Brockman
Senator Matthew Canavan, former Minister for Resources
Senator Claire Chandler
Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, former Assistant Minister for Defence
Senator Kimberley Kitching, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability
Senator Matthew O’Sullivan
Senator James Paterson
Senator Tony Sheldon
Senator Amanda Stoker
New Zealand
Simeon Brown MP
Marama Davidson MP, co-leader of the Green Party
Simon O’Connor MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee
USA
Members of the Senate
Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee
Senator Ted Cruz, Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Edward J Markey, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
Senator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Marco Rubio, Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Senator Josh Hawley
Members of the House of Representatives
Congressman Robert B Aderholt
Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congressman Mike Gallagher
Congressman Vicky Hartzler
Congressman Michael T McCaul, ranking member of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China
Congressman Adam B Schiff, Chairman of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services
Congressman Christopher Smith, former Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Congressman Tom Suozzi
Congressman Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
Former Ambassadors
Grover Joseph Rees, former USA Ambassador to East Timor
UK
Members of Parliament
Debbie Abrahams MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Gareth Bacon MP
Andrew Bowie MP
Andrew Bridgen MP
Anthony Browne MP
Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission
Chris Bryant MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee
Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesman
Wendy Chamberlain MP
Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee
Daisy Cooper MP
Rt. Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Geraint Davies MP
Dehenna Davison MP
Stephen Double MP
Peter Dowd MP, former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Tim Farron MP, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Simon Fell MP
Rt. Hon Liam Fox MP, former Defence Secretary and International Trade Secretary
Rt. Hon Damian Green MP, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Jonathan Gullis MP
Andrew Gwynne MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Antony Higginbottom MP
Wera Hobhouse MP
Kevin Hollinrake MP
Christine Jardine MP
Imran Khan MP
Daniel Kawczynski MP
Craig Mackinlay MP
Paul Maynard MP
Stewart M McDonald MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee
Gagan Mohindra MP
Layla Moran MP
Kieran Mullen MP
Sarah Olney MP
Tom Randall MP
Rob Roberts MP
Bob Seely MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee
Andrew Selous MP
Rt. Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Leader of the Conservative Party
Alyn Smith MP, Scottish Nationalist Party Spokesman on International Affairs
Jamie Stone MP
Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Jamie Wallis MP
James Wild MP
Munira Wilson MP
Members of the House of Lords
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party
Rt. Hon Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell, former Speaker of the House of Commons
Lord Hannay of Chiswick, former UK Ambassador to the United Nations
Lord Hogan-Howe of Sheffield, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Rt. Hon Lord Howard of Lympne, former Home Secretary and Leader of the Conservative Party
Baroness Kennedy QC of the Shaws
Rt. Hon Lord King of Bridgewater, former Defence Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary
Former Members of Parliament
Rt. Hon John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons and former MP
Rt. Hon David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary and MP
Rt. Hon Rory Stewart, former Secretary of State for International Development and former MP
Rt. Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Justice Secretary and former MP
Former Ambassadors
Sir David Manning, former UK Ambassador to the United States of America
Members of the Scottish Parliament
Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green External Affairs Spokesperson
Canada
Members of Parliament
Leona Alleslev, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
James Bezan, MP, Shadow Minister for National Defence
Kenny Chiu MP
Ed Fast MP
Garnett Genuis MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China Relations
Peter Mackay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada
Erin O’Toole MP
John Williamson MP
Members of the Senate
Senator Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the Senate
Senator Jim Munson
Senator Thanh Hai Ngo
Former Ministers
Irwin Colter, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General
David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and former MP
Former Premiers
Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Federal MP
EU
Former EU Special Envoys
Jan Figel, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and EU Special Envoy for Promotion Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EU
Members of the European Parliament
Petras 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 Poland
Michael 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 Assembly
Eugen 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 Lithuania
Miriam 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 Estonia
Peter 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 Belgium
Germany
Margarete Bause MP, Green Party Spokeswoman for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid
Peter Heidt MP
Eckhard Gnodtke MP
Gyde Jensen MP, the Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee
Sweden
Joar Forssell MP
Hampus Hagman MP
David Josefsson MP
Kerstin Lundgren MP
Frederik Malm MP
Niels Paarup-Petersen MP
Lorentz Tovatt MP
Denmark
Viggo Fischer MP
Ireland
Senator Ronan Mullen
Lithuania
Mantas Adomenas MP
Arvydas Anusauskas MP
Audronius Azubalis MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Laurynas Kasciunas MP
Gabrielius Landsbergis MP
Radvilė Morkunaite-Mikuleniene MP
Emanuelis Zingeris MP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development
Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of America
Slovakia
Members of Parliament
Alojz Baránik MP
Ján Benčík MP
Peter Cmorej MP
Ondrej Dostál MP
Gábor Grendel MP, Deputy Speaker
Jarmila Halgašová MP
Radovan Kazda MP
Miroslav Kollár MP
Vladimíra Marcinková MP
Peter Osuský MP
Peter Pollák MP
Juraj Šeliga MP, Deputy Speaker
Andrej Stančík MP
Romana Tabák MP
Marián Viskupič MP
Anna Zemanová MP
Miroslav Žiak MP
Jana Žitňanská MP
Former Member of Parliament
František Šebej, former MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Czech Republic
Jan Lipavsky MP
Malaysia
Andrew Khoo, Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya in Malaysia, former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council Malaysia
Charles Santiago MP, Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Myanmar
U Kyaw Min San, Member of the Bago Regional Parliament and former legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists Office
South Korea
Jung-Hoon Lee, former Ambassador for Human Rights
India
Dr John Dayal, former President of the All India Catholic Union and Member of the National Integration Council
Indonesia
Rafendi Djamin, former Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights
Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights
Ends.