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The former governor of Hong Kong has urged Boris Johnson to be “outspoken” in defending the territory’s freedoms.

Lord Patten of Barnes said the Prime Minister must follow the lead of Canada and Australia while also pressing the United States to agree with Britain about the dangers of Chinese intervention in the city.

He also agreed with Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam that the area is "close to the abyss", with near-daily and increasingly violent confrontations between protesters and police occurring in recent weeks.

The Conservative peer added a commission of inquiry is needed to assess the reasons for the demonstrations and the way they have been policed.

Hong Kong airport cancels all flights after protesters flood terminal 43 show all Hong Kong airport cancels all flights after protesters flood terminal 1/43 Anti-government protesters stand at a barricade made of trolleys during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 2/43 Anti-government protesters sleep on the floor during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 3/43 Passenger planes are parked at the tarmac after authorities canceled all flights at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kon AP 4/43 Airline crew members walk past anti-government protesters during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 5/43 People watch protesters attending a sit-in against police violence in Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport EPA 6/43 A member of airport staff tries to stop anti-government protesters during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airpor Reuters 7/43 A passenger walks past anti-government protesters as he tries to enter the security gate during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 8/43 Protesters stage a sit-in rally near the departure gate of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong AP 9/43 An airport security staff member gestures to travelers at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong AP 10/43 Protesters stage a sit-in rally at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport AP 11/43 Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters block the departure gates during another demonstration against police brutality and a controversial extradition bill at Hong Kong's international airport AFP/Getty Images 12/43 Protesters hold signs during a sit-in against police violence in Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport EPA 13/43 Pro-democracy protesters gather against the police brutality and the controversial extradition bill at Hong Kong's international airport AFP/Getty Images 14/43 Anti-extradition bill protesters wave flags with Chinese calligraphy that reads "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times", at a mass demonstration after a woman was shot in the eye during a protest at Hong Kong International Airport Reuters 15/43 Passengers wait at the departure gate of Hong Kong airport as anti-extradition bill protesters occupy the floor, in Hong Kong, China Reuters 16/43 AP 17/43 AP 18/43 AFP/Getty Images 19/43 AP 20/43 AP 21/43 AP 22/43 AFP/Getty Images 23/43 Reuters 24/43 AFP/Getty Images 25/43 Getty Images 26/43 Getty Images 27/43 Reuters 28/43 Getty Images 29/43 Getty Images 30/43 Getty Images 31/43 Getty Images 32/43 Getty Images 33/43 Reuters 34/43 Reuters 35/43 Reuters 36/43 Reuters 37/43 Reuters 38/43 Reuters 39/43 Getty Images 40/43 AFP/Getty Images 41/43 AFP/Getty Images 42/43 Several thousand people gathered on Monday for a fourth day of protest against a proposed extradition law AP 43/43 Anti-extradition bill protesters gather in Hong Kong airport Reuters 1/43 Anti-government protesters stand at a barricade made of trolleys during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 2/43 Anti-government protesters sleep on the floor during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 3/43 Passenger planes are parked at the tarmac after authorities canceled all flights at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kon AP 4/43 Airline crew members walk past anti-government protesters during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 5/43 People watch protesters attending a sit-in against police violence in Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport EPA 6/43 A member of airport staff tries to stop anti-government protesters during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airpor Reuters 7/43 A passenger walks past anti-government protesters as he tries to enter the security gate during a demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China Reuters 8/43 Protesters stage a sit-in rally near the departure gate of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong AP 9/43 An airport security staff member gestures to travelers at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong AP 10/43 Protesters stage a sit-in rally at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport AP 11/43 Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters block the departure gates during another demonstration against police brutality and a controversial extradition bill at Hong Kong's international airport AFP/Getty Images 12/43 Protesters hold signs during a sit-in against police violence in Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport EPA 13/43 Pro-democracy protesters gather against the police brutality and the controversial extradition bill at Hong Kong's international airport AFP/Getty Images 14/43 Anti-extradition bill protesters wave flags with Chinese calligraphy that reads "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times", at a mass demonstration after a woman was shot in the eye during a protest at Hong Kong International Airport Reuters 15/43 Passengers wait at the departure gate of Hong Kong airport as anti-extradition bill protesters occupy the floor, in Hong Kong, China Reuters 16/43 AP 17/43 AP 18/43 AFP/Getty Images 19/43 AP 20/43 AP 21/43 AP 22/43 AFP/Getty Images 23/43 Reuters 24/43 AFP/Getty Images 25/43 Getty Images 26/43 Getty Images 27/43 Reuters 28/43 Getty Images 29/43 Getty Images 30/43 Getty Images 31/43 Getty Images 32/43 Getty Images 33/43 Reuters 34/43 Reuters 35/43 Reuters 36/43 Reuters 37/43 Reuters 38/43 Reuters 39/43 Getty Images 40/43 AFP/Getty Images 41/43 AFP/Getty Images 42/43 Several thousand people gathered on Monday for a fourth day of protest against a proposed extradition law AP 43/43 Anti-extradition bill protesters gather in Hong Kong airport Reuters

Lord Patten told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What's clearly needed is a process of reconciliation.

"It's the only way I think you'll put a cap on this and get back to peace and stability in Hong Kong, but it does need the government to move."

On what Britain could do, Lord Patten added: "I very much hope that our own prime minister will be as outspoken as the prime ministers of Canada and Australia have been in defence of Hong Kong's freedoms."

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected Chinese claims that the protesters are "terrorists" and called on ms Lam to listen to their concerns.

“My view is one to seek to de-escalate things," he said on Tuesday.

“To encourage the Chief Executive of Hong Kong to be listening carefully to what people are saying in Hong Kong, and to work towards a peaceful and calm resolution.”

Asked if he believed Mr Johnson is keeping silent, Lord Patten said: "I think he's made a ritualistic expression of concern but what he should say to (US national security adviser John Bolton), who is here, that he very much hopes the Americans will agree with us that it'd be a catastrophe if China was to intervene in Hong Kong."

Also on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the violence between police and pro-democracy protesters amid a second day of chaotic scenes at Hong Kong's airport.

"Concerning to see what's happening in Hong Kong and the worrying pictures of clashes between police & protesters at the airport," Mr Raab tweeted.

"As I said to Carrie Lam during my call last week, we condemn the violence & encourage constructive dialogue to find a peaceful way forward."

Hong Kong is a former British colony which was returned to China in 1997.

Protests have taken place in the territory over the summer, initially triggered by controversial extradition proposals that would have allowed some suspects to be sent to mainland China for trials.

Despite the government suspending the planned legislation, protesters have pressed on with broader calls for it to be scrapped entirely and with demands for democratic reforms.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984 paved the way for the handover and stated Hong Kong would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" and be "vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power".