LONDON (Reuters) – Britain on Thursday condemned a decision by Hong Kong to disqualify 12 candidates for its upcoming elections, saying it was clear the candidates had been barred because of their political views.

“I condemn the decision to disqualify opposition candidates from standing in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council elections,” British foreign minister Dominic Raab said in a statement.

“It is clear they have been disqualified because of their political views, undermining the integrity of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Joint Declaration and Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”

(Reporting by William James; editing by Kate Holton)

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