I was shocked by the sentence passed yesterday against Joshua Wong and other members of the opposition in Hong Kong for their participation in a peaceful assembly last year. The way they have been treated, and the win by journalist Bao Choy and her colleagues at the Human Rights Press Awards, give me occasion to call on the Chinese Government and the Hong Kong authorities to respect the rights and freedoms promised to the citizens of Hong Kong.

Beijing’s growing control over Hong Kong is having an impact on all parts of society in the Special Administrative Region. The broad application of the national security law, the electoral reforms adopted in March, attacks on press representatives and the rigorous actions taken against opposition figures show how very much freedom of opinion, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly are under pressure.