Question: The UK and a couple of members of the so-called Media Freedom Coalition issued a statement on freedom of the press in Hong Kong expressing “their deep concern at the Chinese authorities’ attacks on freedom of the press and suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong." What is your comment?

Embassy Spokesperson: Since the implementation of the National Security Law, China's Hong Kong SAR has restored public order, and life in the city has gotten back to normal. Hong Kong residents' legal rights and freedoms have been fully safeguared. Freedom of the press has also been better protected in a safe, stable and law-based environment, and the number of international media and journalists in Hong Kong has further increased. 

As for the lawful arrests of individuals suspected of conspiracy to publish seditious publications and the freeze of relevant assets by the Hong Kong police, these actions are necessary and justified in upholding rule of law and safeguarding public order in Hong Kong and completely beyond reproach.

Hong Kong SAR upholds rule of law. Freedom of the press and speech are fully safeguarded by law. At the same time, nobody is allowed to engage in criminal activities in the name of freedom of the press and speech.

It has to be pointed out that the legal basis for the Chinese government’s administration of Hong Kong is China’s Constitution and the Basic Law. It is definitely not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Upon the return of Hong Kong long time ago, all the provisions concerning the British side in the Joint Declaration were fulfilled. The UK has no sovereignty, no jurisdiction and no right of supervision over Hong Kong, and its attempt to interfere in the affairs of China’s Hong Kong by distorting the Joint Declaration constitutes a grave violation of the principles of the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, namely, respect for other countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in their internal affairs.

Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs which brook no interference from external forces. We urge relevant countries and foreign institutions to observe the principles of the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs and stop interfering in China's internal affairs.