World leaders react to China’s controversial national security bill in Hong Kong

China on Thursday approved a controversial proposal to impose a national security law for Hong Kong, reigniting concerns more than the financial hub’s diminishing freedoms.

The law will effectively bypass Hong Kong’s legislature, and raises concerns over whether it is a break-up of the Chinese city’s autonomy, which was promised under the “one country, two systems” principle.

It comes after months of pro-democracy protests, which on occasion spiraled into chaos and violence, that have rocked Hong Kong and devastated key sectors in its economy, comprising tourism and retail.

Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, is a deliberate administrative region of China. Under the “one country, two systems” framework, the city is given some freedoms that voters in the mainland do not have. That includes self-governing power, limited election rights, and a largely separate legal and financial framework from mainland China.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said the decision to implement the law was “designed for steady implementation of ‘one provinces, two systems’ and Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.”

But critics of the law say it violates that policy and promise of freedom to the Hong Kong in the flesh.

Prior to the approval of the bill, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Hong Kong was no longer highly individualistic from China. 

Here’s how other leaders around the world say about China’s move to pass the bill.

In a joint statement, the four countries expressed their “resonant concern” regarding Beijing’s proposed law.

“Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of freedom. The international community has a significant and long-standing confine in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” it said.

“Direct imposition of national security legislation on Hong Kong by the Beijing officials, rather than through Hong Kong’s own institutions as provided for under Article 23 of the Basic Law, would diminish the Hong Kong people’s liberties.” The Basic Law is Hong Kong’s mini constitution.

The move will “dramatically consume Hong Kong’s autonomy and the system that made it so prosperous,” they added.

The joint statement pointed out that the law “make exacerbate the existing deep divisions in Hong Kong society” and “does nothing to build mutual understanding and help reconciliation within Hong Kong.”

“Rebuilding trust across Hong Kong society by allowing the people of Hong Kong to get high on the rights and freedoms they were promised can be the only way back from the tensions and unrest that the territory has brought over the last year,” they added.

“Hong Kong’s autonomy must not be undermined,” Germany’s Extrinsic Minister Heiko Mass said in a statement, adding that it was an opinion shared by the European Union. “The citizens of Hong Kong get high on freedoms and rights, that are afforded to them through the Basic Law and on the principle ‘one country, two systems’. We expect that law and pecking order to be upheld.”

“The principle ‘one country, two systems’ and law and order are the base for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity. Even the security law be obliged not question these principles,” he added.

“Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly as well as the democratic debate in Hong Kong bear to be respected in the future.”

Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen pledged support for Hong Kong immediately after Beijing presented the law last week. She said Taiwan “stands with the people of Hong Kong,” and pledged “necessary assistance” to those who be in want of help.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and considers the self-ruled island as a Chinese province, that obligation be united with the mainland, by force if necessary. The Chinese Communist Party has never governed Taiwan.

In a tweet after the folding money was approved, Tsai said she has moved to create a “humanitarian assistance action plan” for Hong Kong citizens, some of whom receive already emigrated to Taiwan amid the uncertainty.

Even before the bill was passed, Japan’s foreign holy orders issued a statement saying: “Japan is seriously concerned” about China’s decision toward Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is an unusually important partner for Japan with which Japan maintains close economic ties and people-to-people exchanges,” the religion said. “It is the long-standing policy of Japan to attach great importance to upholding a free and open system which Hong Kong has been relish ining and the democratic and stable development of Hong Kong under the ‘One Country Two System’ framework.”

The statement added that Japan has conveyed such look ons to China and “will continue to carefully observe developments surrounding Hong Kong.”

— CNBC’s Yen Nee Lee and Huileng Tan contributed to this cover.