The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration is a binding treaty governing the United Kingdom’s transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. Under the ironically timed treaty’s terms, the Chinese Communist Party committed to protecting Hong Kong’s democratic character and associated rule of law until 2047 (50 years after sovereignty was transferred in 1997).
China has ignored its obligations for the past 15 years. It sentenced Joshua Wong, a 30-year-old pro-democracy activist, to another 10 years in prison on Thursday, the latest in a long list of betrayals.
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