Lord Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, has called for a United Nations special envoy to be appointed to defend human rights in the city amid a growing international outcry against China’s move to impose a controversial national security law intended to crush dissent. “The establishment of an international contact group to coordinate a global response would be a positive way forward,” said Lord Patten on Friday. “Moreover, the creation of a UN special envoy for Hong Kong would contribute both to monitoring human rights and encouraging dialogue and reconciliation. Many UN member states would see it as a constructive proposal worthy of support,” he added. Beijing’s rubberstamp parliament on Thursday approved the law which will tighten its control of Hong Kong by criminalising separatism, subversion, terrorism, foreign interference and “acts” of that threaten national security. Western nations and legal experts fear it will end Hong Kong’s special autonomy, and effectively railroad the “one country, two systems” principle underpinning the binding agreement that governed the UK’s handover of the city to China in 1997, ensuring its freedoms and way of life until 2047.