China adopts new laws to ensure only 'patriots' can govern Hong Kong

UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab accuses Beijing of hollowing out the space for democratic debate

China's rubber stamping parliamentary body has unanimously - bar one abstention and to sustained and loud applause - approved new laws ensuring that only people it deems patriots" can govern Hong Kong, in a move critics say signals the end of the city's remaining autonomy.

The final meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the annual two sessions" political gathering also approved new domestic amendments and budgets, and the 14th five-year-plan, intended to strengthen and expand China's domestic technology industry and market, and reach new GDP and population targets amid economic uncertainty and declining birth rates.