The United States and Britain have raised China's plan to impose new security legislation on Hong Kong at the UN Security Council, prompting China and Russia to criticise the United States for excessive use of force against black people.
The 15-member council informally discussed Hong Kong in a closed virtual meeting after China opposed a US call on Wednesday for a formal open council meeting, arguing that it was not an issue of international peace and security.
"The free world must stand with the people of Hong Kong," US ambassador Kelly Craft posted on Twitter before the council discussion.
China's parliament on Thursday approved a decision to move forward with legislation that democracy activists, diplomats and some in the business world fear will jeopardise Hong Kong's semi-autonomous status and role as a global financial hub.
"This legislation risks curtailing the freedoms that China has undertaken to uphold as a matter of international law," acting British UN ambassador Jonathan Allen said after the council discussion.
"We are also extremely concerned that... it will exacerbate the existing deep divisions in Hong Kong."
Diplomats said Russia and China responded during the council discussion by criticising the United States over the Minneapolis killing of an unarmed black man - seen on video gasping for breath while a white police officer knelt on his neck - and its handling of growing unrest.
"Why US denies China's right to restore peace & order in Hong Kong while brutally dispersing crowds at home?" Russia's Deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on Twitter after the council discussion.
China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun said in a statement after the meeting that the United States and Britain should "mind their own business," adding that: "Any attempt to use Hong Kong to interfere in China's internal matters is doomed to fail."
Australian Associated Press
