US, Britain aim to raise Hong Kong issue at UN Security Council

US, Britain aim to raise Hong Kong issue at UN Security Council

The move comes after China opposed a US call for a formal open council meeting on Hong Kong.

A video shows the results of the vote on national security legislation concerning Hong Kong during China’s recent National People’s Congress. (AP pic)
NEW YORK:
The United States and Britain plan to informally raise at the United Nations Security Council on Friday China’s plan to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong, diplomats said, a move likely to anger Beijing.

China’s parliament approved on Thursday a decision to move forward with the legislation that democracy activists, diplomats and some in the business world fear will jeopardise Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status and its role as a global financial hub.

Britain’s UN mission confirmed that Britain and the United States had notified the 15-member Security Council that they would raise the situation in Hong Kong behind closed doors under “any other business.”

The move comes after China, backed by Russia, opposed a US call on Wednesday for a formal open council meeting on Hong Kong, arguing that it was an internal matter and not an issue of international peace and security.

China’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the US and British plan to raise the issue informally on Friday.

The Security Council has been meeting virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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