Hong Kong rejects EU report’s claims on freedoms as ‘unfounded and biased’

The Hong Kong government has rejected an annual European Union report that alleges the administration is undermining the city's fundamental freedoms. According to the South China Morning Post, the government called the EU's claims "unfounded and biased". The EU report, jointly issued by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, highlighted national security trials involving pro-democracy activists.

The Hong Kong government spokesman said the administration "strongly disapproved of and rejected the unfounded and biased content" in the report. The spokesman also urged the EU to respect facts, abide by international law, and stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are considered China's internal affairs.

The EU report mentioned issues including national security trials of media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, as well as the disbandment of the Democratic Party ahead of the second "patriot-only" Legislative Council election.

Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Free Press — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.