The Five Eyes intelligence sharing group says China's imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong appears to be part of a campaign to silence critics and is calling on Beijing to reverse course.
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"We urge the Chinese central authorities to re-consider their actions against Hong Kong's elected legislature and immediately reinstate the Legislative Council members," foreign ministers from Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
Hong Kong expelled four opposition members from its legislature last week after Beijing gave city authorities new powers to curb dissent.
The move triggered mass resignations by Hong Kong's pro-democracy opposition MPs.
It also raised further alarm in the West about the level of Hong Kong's autonomy, promised under a "one country, two systems" formula when Britain ended colonial rule and handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.
"China's action is a clear breach of its international obligations under the legally binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration," the five countries said.
China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong said any attempt by states to threaten or pressure Beijing to make concessions was "doomed to fail".
"China's determination to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering," it said in a statement.
Britain now considers China has broken the Joint Declaration three times, including with national security legislation for Hong Kong introduced this year.
Washington has already imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other Chinese officials over the crackdown and has warned of further steps.
Police in Hong Kong said they arrested three former MPs on Wednesday morning over May and June incidents in which foul-smelling liquid was thrown in the city's legislature in an act intended to cause harm.
China denies curbing rights and freedoms in the global financial hub.
However authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have moved swiftly to stifle dissent after anti-government protests flared in June last year and plunged the city into crisis.
Australian Associated Press
