Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. There has been a lull in the severity of the violence and ongoing tension but it is obvious that there was an outbreak of violence on a smaller scale last weekend. There was a very disturbing report that on previous occasions first responders and other medical staff were detained by law enforcement agents while they tried to provide assistance to the injured. As the Minister indicates, the values supported by the Hong Kong protestors included freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, and these have been seen as threats to the Hong Kong Government.

We can see what has happened in China to Uighurs and other Muslim minorities so we cannot really hold much hope that the Chinese would respect the democratic will of the people in Hong Kong, as we saw in recent election results. A great deal depends on China but I do not have too much faith in its respect for democracy.

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