China deals "severe blow" to Hong Kong freedoms, EU says

BRUSSELS: The European Union called on Beijing on Thursday to immediately reverse new rules to disqualify elected legislators, saying the decision was a "severe blow" to the former British colony's autonomy.

"This latest arbitrary decision from Beijing further significantly undermines Hong Kong's autonomy under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle," the EU's 27 governments said in a statement.

"These latest steps constitute a further severe blow to political pluralism and freedom of opinion in Hong Kong," the bloc said.