China hits out at 'irresponsible' Liz Truss over remarks on Hong Kong rights

China has slammed remarks by Liz Truss as "irresponsible" after the British Foreign Secretary called on the Hong Kong government to uphold freedom of speech.

Truss was expressing concern over the Hong Kong government ousting opposition district councillors - the only political office in Hong Kong wholly directly elected by residents - for alleged insufficient loyalty to authorities.

Since last month, district councillors have had to “sincerely” pledge their loyalty in a drive to purge the city of “unpatriotic” elements, causing hundreds to resign. While dozens of others took the pledges, 55 have since been removed from their positions for what authorities deemed invalid oaths.

“It is deeply concerning that 55 District Councillors have been disqualified and over 250 pressured to resign for political reasons – the first time that such action has been taken against democratically elected District Councillors in the Hong Kong SAR,” Ms Truss said in a statement on Thursday. “This comes as trade unions, interest groups and NGOs have been forced to disband.

“The Hong Kong SAR Government must uphold freedom of speech and allow the public a genuine choice of political representatives,” she added.

The Chinese embassy in London called her remarks “irresponsible” and accused her of interfering in China’s internal affairs, while China’s foreign ministry said Britain and the U.S. – which has also criticised the disqualifications – had never “really cared about democracy and freedom in Hong Kong”.

“Facts speak louder than words,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday. “Since the earnest implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong and the principle of ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’, the violent and chaotic situation in Hong Kong has been completely reversed, the lawful rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people have been better protected, and Hong Kong's unique strengths and development potential have been fully demonstrated.”

He urged the countries to “stop interfering in China's internal affairs”.

Their response came on the day that Ms Truss also warned against Britain becoming reliant on China.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the foreign secretary said that Beijing should play no part in nuclear plants or Britain’s 5G network.

She indicated that Beijing-controlled companies should be excluded from contracts to build the Sizewell C nuclear power station, saying joint work on sensitive projects should be done only with nations that have a “bond of trust” with the UK.

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