EU demands China reverse rules on Hong Kong lawmakers

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Thursday called on China to "immediately reverse" rules placed on Hong Kong's legislature that led to four pro-democracy lawmakers being ousted for being seen as insufficiently patriotic.

"This latest arbitrary decision from Beijing further significantly undermines Hong Kong's autonomy," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a statement on behalf of the bloc.

The union also urged the legislators' "immediate reinstatement".

On Wednesday, Beijing implemented the new rules for Hong Kong, giving the territory's chief executive, Carrie Lam, the power to turf out any legislator deemed not loyal enough without recourse to the courts.

She immediately used that power on the four lawmakers, prompting 15 other legislators to resign in protest. China warned it viewed the walkout as a "blatant challenge" to its authority.

"These latest steps constitute a further severe blow to political pluralism and freedom of opinion in Hong Kong," the EU statement said.

Taken along with the imposition of a "national security law" on Hong Kong in June, China was eroding its commitment to the "One Country, Two Systems" promise to keep the territory's rights and freedoms intact, it said.

The European bloc, which has become noticeably firmer with China this year on its rights record and business behaviour, said it was "closely following the political situation in Hong Kong".

It noted it had adopted a set of measures in July backing Hong Kong's right to autonomy and that Borrell was to report to EU member states on that situation before the end of this year.

"These latest development will form part of the assessment," it said.