Patten says China pursuing 'Orwellian' agenda in Hong Kong

last British goverr of Hong Kong criticized Chinese government on Friday over proposed national security legislation, calling it part of an “Orwellian" drive to eliminate opposition in violation of agreement on handing territory over to Beijing.

Chris Patten defended London’s anuncement that it would grant residency and a path to citizenship for nearly 3 million Hong Kong residents if Beijing goes through with pass of legislation.

law is seen as potentially imposing severe restrictions on freedom of speech and opposition political activity in former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. China has deunced offer of citizenship as a violation of its sovereignty.

“If y’ve broken (Si-British) Joint Declaration, if y’ve thrown it overboard, how can y n use joint declaration as though it stops us doing something that’s a sovereign right of ours?” said Patten, w chancellor of University of Oxford, in an online talk with reporters.

declaration is a bilateral treaty signed as part of handover process. China has essentially declared it null and void, while Britain says Beijing is reneging on its commitments me in document that was supposed to be remain in effect until 2047.

China shocked many of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million people when it anunced earlier this month that it will enact a national security law for city, which was promised a high level of automy outside of foreign and defense affairs.

An earlier push to pass security legislation was shelved after massive Hong Kong street protests against it in 2003. However, Beijing appeared to lose patience after months of sometimes violent anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year that China said was an attempt to split territory off from rest of country.

Patten said security legislation is unnecessary because Hong Kong's legal code alrey includes provisions to combat terrorism, financial crimes and or threats to security.

“What Beijing wants is something which deals with those rar worrying Orwellian crimes like sedition, whatever that may be," Patten said.

China may also be seeking grounds to disqualify opposition candidates from running in September's election for local legislature by accusing m of being disloyal, he said.

Beijing has igred promises that Hong Kong could democratize of its own accord after handover, Patten said. U.S. should unite with or democratic countries to oppose underhanded tactics by Beijing, he said.

“It’s Chinese Communist Party which attacks us, which hectors, which bullies, which tells companies which have roots in our countries, that unless y do what China wants, y won’t get any business in China,” Patten said. “That’s way Mafia behave, and rest of world shouldn’t put up with it, because if we do, liberal democracies are going to be screwed.”