EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday expressed concern about the potential impact of Hong Kong's new security law on the rights and freedoms of people in the Chinese special administrative region.
Following the adoption of the controversial bill by the pro-Beijing Legislative Council, or LegCo, in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Borrell said in a statement in Brussels that the move could "exacerbate the erosion of fundamental freedoms and political pluralism."
The law could "significantly affect" the work of the EU representation and the consulates general of EU states in Hong Kong and impact European citizens, organizations and companies in the Asian metropolis, Borrell said.
"This also raises questions about Hong Kong's long-term attractiveness as an international business hub," the EU top diplomat added.
According to his assessment, the comprehensive provisions and vague definitions relating to "foreign interference and state secrets" in the law appear to be "particularly worrying."
The law gives the authorities of the former British colony further powers to take action against critical voices.
It follows on from the security law introduced in 2020 after the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, with which Beijing tightened its grip on the special administrative region, and restricted many of the freedoms previously enjoyed by Hong Kong's 7 million inhabitants.
The local security law was necessary as the law already implemented by Beijing didn't fulfil all the points prescribed by Hong Kong's constitution.
Human rights organizations also voiced harsh criticism. The new law heralds "a new era of authoritarianism" in Hong Kong, wrote Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
"Now even possessing a book critical of the Chinese government can violate national security and lead to years in prison in Hong Kong," she wrote.
Hong Kong's government should stop its "aggressive assault on basic rights," she said. Foreign governments should hold Beijing accountable with targeted sanctions against Hong Kong officials.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the new law "undermines Hong Kong's implementation of binding international obligations including the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."
In July 1, 1997, the former British crown colony was returned to China and has since been governed according to the principle of "one country, two systems." This agreement provides for Hong Kongers to enjoy "a high degree of autonomy" until 2047.
"I urge the Hong Kong authorities to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, uphold its high degree of autonomy and the rule of law and act in accordance with its international commitments and legal obligations," Cameron said.
"The broad definitions of national security and external interference will make it harder for those who live, work and do business in Hong Kong," Cameron continued.
"It will entrench the culture of self-censorship which now dominates Hong Kong's social and political landscape," he said, adding that it will also enable the further undermining of freedom of expression, assembly and media.
A spokesperson for China's embassy in the UK called Cameron's comments "a serious distortion of the facts and constitute grave interference in China's internal affairs."
"Hong Kong-related affairs are China's internal affairs, on which the UK side is in no position to make unwarranted remarks," the spokesperson said.
"We urge the UK to cease its baseless accusations regarding the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs under any pretext."