Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly noted that under the city’s National Security Law, independent media outlets have been closed down.

“The right to freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed in Hong Kong’s Basic Law has been eroded. Those who speak out, including journalists or businessmen like Jimmy Lai (Chee-ying), have been arrested,” he said.

In this respect, Cleverly said the UK called on the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to uphold the Sino-British Joint Declaration and urge them to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee Report.

Meanwhile, the official also pointed out that the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report last year that found evidence of arbitrary detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced sterilization, and the destruction of religious sites taking place in Xinjiang - which these abuses may amount to crimes against humanity.

“Surely, such serious and well-evidenced findings merit further and proper discussion by this Council. But instead China has consistently sought to deny these findings and obstruct discussion.

“I now urge China to engage with the Council and uphold the international obligations into which it has freely entered.” Cleverly added.