Press Releases
The Situation surrounding Hong Kong
(Statement by Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu)
June 30, 2020
- Japan expresses its regret over the enactment of the national security law on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China despite strong concerns from the international community and the people of Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong is an extremely important partner for Japan with which Japan maintains close economic ties and people-to-people exchanges. It is the long-standing position of Japan to attach great importance to upholding a free and open system and the democratic and stable development of Hong Kong under the ‘One Country Two System’ framework.
- The international community has built ties with Hong Kong based on the trust in the ‘One Country Two System’ framework as provided for in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which has led to the prosperity of Hong Kong. The recent enactment of the national security law on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region undermines such trust.
- Japan continues to carefully observe developments surrounding Hong Kong and will call on China, in cooperation with relevant countries, to ensure that activities and rights of Japanese nationals and companies in Hong Kong, with which Japan maintains close economic ties, continue to be respected and protected in the same manner as before, and that the rights and freedoms of the people in Hong Kong are respected.