Cameron backs Hong Kong rights, China blocks BBC site — RT UK
British Prime Minister David Cameron.(Reuters / Omar Sobhani)
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday Britain should stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong after more than two weeks of pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.
Asked about the protests during Wednesday’s Prime Minister Questions, Cameron said, “it is important that democracy involves real choices.” The comments come as Hong Kong’s citizens take to the streets to protest against Chinese restrictions on the 2017 election of the next chief executive.
The agreement brokered when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 included guarantees on “rights and freedoms, including those of person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, and, indeed, of strike,” Cameron said.
“These are important freedoms, jointly guaranteed through that joint declaration and it’s that which, most of all, we should stand up for,” he added.
Protests have since escalated in the semi-autonomous region. Police arrested around 45 demonstrators early on Wednesday morning, using pepper spray against those who resisted.
READ MORE: Hong Kong police officers beat protester, use pepper spray, arrest dozens
Cameron’s comments come after pro-democracy campaigners clashed with Hong Kong police overnight, and footage of police beating and kicking a handcuffed protester was released.
Pro-democracy protesters build a barricade near the government headquarters in Hong Kong late October 14, 2014.(Reuters / Carlos Barria)
As a result, the BBC's website was blocked in China on Wednesday, just hours after the video went viral online.
In a statement, BBC director of global news Peter Horrocks said the move “appears to be deliberate censorship.”
“The BBC strongly condemns any attempts to restrict free access to news and information and we are protesting to the Chinese authorities.
“The BBC provides impartial, trusted news to millions of people around the world, and attempts to censor our news services show just how important it is to get our accurate information to them.”
Britain established an inquiry in July this year to look into whether China has fulfilled its promises of democracy for Hong Kong after Britain handed over the colony.
The Hong Kong government and China, however, said Britain has no right to interfere with the details of the election system established by Beijing.
British Prime Minister David Cameron.(Reuters / Omar Sobhani)
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday Britain should stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong after more than two weeks of pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.
Asked about the protests during Wednesday’s Prime Minister Questions, Cameron said, “it is important that democracy involves real choices.” The comments come as Hong Kong’s citizens take to the streets to protest against Chinese restrictions on the 2017 election of the next chief executive.
The agreement brokered when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 included guarantees on “rights and freedoms, including those of person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, and, indeed, of strike,” Cameron said.
“These are important freedoms, jointly guaranteed through that joint declaration and it’s that which, most of all, we should stand up for,” he added.
Protests have since escalated in the semi-autonomous region. Police arrested around 45 demonstrators early on Wednesday morning, using pepper spray against those who resisted.
READ MORE: Hong Kong police officers beat protester, use pepper spray, arrest dozens
Cameron’s comments come after pro-democracy campaigners clashed with Hong Kong police overnight, and footage of police beating and kicking a handcuffed protester was released.
Pro-democracy protesters build a barricade near the government headquarters in Hong Kong late October 14, 2014.(Reuters / Carlos Barria)
As a result, the BBC's website was blocked in China on Wednesday, just hours after the video went viral online.
In a statement, BBC director of global news Peter Horrocks said the move “appears to be deliberate censorship.”
“The BBC strongly condemns any attempts to restrict free access to news and information and we are protesting to the Chinese authorities.
“The BBC provides impartial, trusted news to millions of people around the world, and attempts to censor our news services show just how important it is to get our accurate information to them.”
Britain established an inquiry in July this year to look into whether China has fulfilled its promises of democracy for Hong Kong after Britain handed over the colony.
The Hong Kong government and China, however, said Britain has no right to interfere with the details of the election system established by Beijing.
.......huh........nope, even your prime minister before the referedum, when he visited London, said he favours/wish the U.K stays United(even though he has no influence at all in our country, but still he wished we stay united) .
So much for your scottish tactical nuclear weapons.
