During the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, a campaign against perceived violations of mainland China in HKSAR, Chinese officials concluded for the first time that China considered the joint declaration “invalid,” according to a British MP. [51] This conclusion was found to be “manifestly erroneous” by a senior Hong Kong lawyer and rejected by the British Foreign Minister, who stated that the document was a legally binding agreement that had to be respected. [26] [52] Rita Fan, then Hong Kong`s only representative on the Standing Committee of the National People`s Congress in Beijing, stated that responsibility for the UK`s oversight had expired and that the joint declaration did not provide for universal suffrage. [53] On 16 June 2016, shortly after his return to Hong Kong, Lam Wing-kee gave a lengthy press conference in which he explained the circumstances of his eight months in detention and described how his confessions and those of his collaborators were written and staged. Lam participated in the participation of the Central Investigation Team, under the direct control of the highest level of Beijing`s leadership. His revelations stunned Hong Kong and made headlines around the world, provoking a deluge of counter-accusations and denials from the authorities and supporters of the continent. [26] On October 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs issued a report in which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in agreement with Secretary of State Steven Mnuchin, concluded that ten individuals had made a significant contribution to China`s failure to meet its obligations under the joint statement of China and Britain and the Hong Kong Basic Law. Xia Baolong, Zhang Xiaoming, Luo Huining, Carrie Lam, Teresa Cheng, Erick Tsang, Zheng Yanxiong, Eric Chan, John Lee and Chris Tang. [45] Xia, Zhang and Luo were explicitly accused of having “made statements reaffirming their authority to oversee Hong Kong`s internal affairs, contrary to the Fundamental Law and the joint declaration of the Chinese and British, in reference to the role of their respective functions.” [45] The Central Government Liaison Office and the State Council`s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office stated, April 17, 2020 and April 21, 2020 that the two offices that “represent the central government” have the power to monitor important issues concerning the relationship between the central government and HKSAR, the correct implementation of the “single country” principle and the basic law , maintaining the normal exploitation of political systems, the general interests of society, etc.” [46] [47] The joint statement states that the Hong Kong Special Unit “will be placed under the direct supervision of the central government of the People`s Republic of China” and “will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence policy”; the text itself contains no language prohibiting Beijing surveillance.
[48] The issue of emigration has become an increasingly important topic of discussion in Hong Kong as the time of transfer to China approaches and many people have acted in the region to obtain the right to stay in other countries. Australia, along with the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, is one of the most coveted destinations for Hong Kong resettlement. Currently, nearly 90,000 Hong Kong-born Australian nationals and permanent residents live in Australia. This figure increased steadily by 28,000 in 1986, with the peak of arrivals (16,000) increasing between 1990-91 and 1991-92. (32) The majority of Hong Kong migrants are well trained and work in occupations, managers or professions, and some of them have contributed significant amounts of capital for investments in Australia. (33) Some Hong Kong migrants have settled their families in Australia, but continue to work or maintain close business relationships in the region, known as “astronauts”.
