Britain has made its Hong Kong stance clear in it latest 19-page six-monthly parliamentary report, released on Thursday, Oct. 31. (Read it in full here).

What is Britain's latest stance by end-October 2019?

London has called on anti-government protesters in Hong Kong to "end the violence", while urging the police to "be proportionate" in their handling of demonstrators.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote in the report's foreword: "Protesters must end the violence. The police response must be proportionate in their handling of protesters and safeguard the right to peaceful protests. And there must be a meaningful dialogue between all parties."

How did post-June 30 events end up in report about first 6 months of 2019?

The report covers the six-month period up to June 30, 2019.

But Raab referred to subsequent events in Hong Kong after that date via his comments.

He said: "Protesters have vandalised property and tried to shut down banks, metro stations and the airport. A police officer was injured by a knife, and petrol bombs have been thrown at police stations and other targets."

This was to note that the protests had changed over the months, "not only in terms of scale and scope, but also in terms of approach".

Raab also stressed that the violence of a "hard-core minority cannot be condoned".

He also expressed "serious concerns" about the Hong Kong police allegedly mistreating protesters.

About one-quarter of the report was on the social unrest that was triggered by the Hong Kong government's proposed extradition bill that has now been withdrawn.

Emphasised validity of Joint Declaration

The British report also highlighted the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The declaration was signed in 1984 between London and Beijing.

It set out the terms of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

The report harked back to what the declaration entailed, and London's position now is that "we condemn violence, but support the right to peaceful and lawful protest", and "the right for people to stand up for their freedoms, as guaranteed under the Joint Declaration".

However, the declaration has been referred to as an "historic document" that had "completed its mission", Chinese officials have said.

London's stance that the declaration remained a legally binding treaty was reiterated in the British report.

The report said: "It is unacceptable to suggest that it is no longer valid. As a co-signatory, the UK is committed to monitoring its implementation closely, and we have made this clear to the Chinese government on many occasions."

Hong Kong government spokesman responds to British report

According to South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong government spokesman reiterated that the internal affairs of Hong Kong are out of bounds for foreign governments.

The spokesman also said that violent and illegal incidents in the city caused damage to district and community facilities, as well as injury to members of the public.

In response, the police have been exercising restraint and carrying out enforcement actions in strict accordance with the law, he said.

The spokesman also said the government has kick started a diversified dialogue platform where community leaders and experts will be invited to conduct an in-depth examination of the social conflicts in Hong Kong.

The report also called on Chief Executive Carrie Lam to embark on "the path towards de-escalation and political resolution", as the city has been rocked by 22 weeks of unrest.

Top photo via Stand News