EU considers sending delegation to Hong Kong after electoral law reform

EUROPE denounced on Wednesday Hong Kong's important overhaul of its political system as a breach by China of its international commitments and threatened to send a delegation to go to the autonomous city.

The possible move will probably irk Beijing which might see it as an interference with its domestic affairs and could further sour relations after the EU placed on hold an investment deal with China over concerns about Hong Kong, China's claims to sovereignty in most of the South China Ocean, and the mass detentions of Muslim Uyghurs in northwestern China.

The EU "will intensify its response to the situation in Hong Kong, notably through increasing support to its civil society and media, promoting freedom of expression, facilitating mobility of Hong Kong citizens, in addition to guaranteeing observation of the trials of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong," the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a affirmation.

"A go to of high-level EU officials will be looked at," he added.

The legislative changes adopted by Hong Kong's lawmakers past due in May will reduce the proportion of seats in the legislature that are filled by direct elections from half to significantly less than a quarter. A new body will vet prospects and bar those considered insufficiently patriotic towards China from standing.