Hong Kong: UK accuses China of breaching joint declaration

Beijing guilty of ongoing non-compliance' with 1984 deal, says foreign secretary Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab has accused China of breaching the legal deal over the governance of Hong Kong, amid criticisms of Beijing's attempts to tighten its control over the territory.

In a major escalation of diplomatic tensions, the foreign secretary said the UK considered China to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance" with the Sino-British joint declaration as he condemned Beijing's decision to reduce the role of the public in picking Hong Kong's leaders. China has instead handed power to a pro-Beijing committee, which will appoint more council members.