Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed British Prime Minister Theresa May, said Wednesday he backs Hong Kong protesters "every inch of the way" in their opposition to a bill allowing extradition to China.
The ex-London mayor, vying with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to be Britain's next leader, said the people of Hong Kong were "perfectly within their rights to be very sceptical, very anxious" about the controversial plans.
"That could be politically motivated, that could be arbitrary and could infringe their human rights," he said of the extradition bill proposed by Hong Kong's leaders but suspended following huge demonstrations.
"I do support them and I will happily speak up for them and back them every inch of the way," Johnson added while campaigning in the Conservative Party leadership contest to be decided later this month.
Johnson's comments came as May reiterated it was "vital" Beijing respects Hong Kong's autonomy under the terms of the 1997 handover deal from British to Chinese rule.
The outgoing premier said she had relayed her "concerns" to China about preserving Hong Kong's unique status following the recent outbreak of unrest in the former colony.
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"I have raised my concerns directly with Chinese leaders," May told British MPs at the weekly questions in parliament session.
"It's vital that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms set down in the Sino-British joint declaration are respected," she added.
Asked how May had relayed the concerns to the Chinese government, her spokesman said: "It was the meeting with the vice premier, quite recently. I think that's the principal thing that she was referring to."
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