China’s ambassador to Berlin was “invited to talks” with the German foreign ministry on Friday to discuss the new national security law imposed in Hong Kong.
Beijing imposed the new security law last week as part of a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.
“The German government, along with EU partners, has repeatedly voiced concern that the law seriously undermines the relative autonomy of Hong Kong and has a negative effect on judiciary independence and the rule of law,” a German foreign ministry source said.
The ministry reaffirmed that position in Friday’s talks, the source added.
Announced in the wake of sometimes-violent pro-democracy protests, the new security law is the most radical change in Hong Kong’s freedoms since Britain handed the city back to China in 1997 under an agreement designed to preserve its way of life for 50 years.
Countries such as the UK and Australia have responded by making it easier for Hong-Kongers to relocate there, but the EU and Germany have been more reticent.
