Question: On 15 April, the UK government published its 54th Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, continuing to use the Sino-British Joint Declaration as an excuse to defame One Country, Two Systems, the National Security Law, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and making case for Jimmy Lai and other anti-China, Hong Kong destabilisers. What's your comment?
Embassy spokesperson: The UK government's so-called report misrepresents the facts and grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs. It also seriously violates basic norms governing international relations. We strongly deplore and firmly reject it, and has made solemn representations to the UK side.
Since the return of Hong Kong, the central government of China has fully, faithfully and firmly implemented the principles of One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy. The constitutional order in Hong Kong based on China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR has been stable and functioned well. The central government has exercised overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong. The high degree of autonomy has been practiced as it should. The Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR and Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have been adopted and entered into force. The electoral system has been revised and improved. Hong Kong is now equipped with strong safeguards for national security, which has ensured that Hong Kong is administered by patriots, provided a solid underpinning for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and protected Hong Kong residents’ various rights and freedoms that they are lawfully entitled to. Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive. The practice of One Country, Two Systems is advancing in the right direction in a sound and sustained manner.
Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The Sino-British Joint Declaration does not give the UK any right to intervene in Hong Kong affairs. The Chinese government remains firmly resolved in safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, in implementing One Country, Two Systems, and in opposing any external interference in Hong Kong’s affairs.
We urge the UK to respect the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China, respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop publishing relevant reports, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way, and stop providing safe haven for criminals or cultivating pawns to disrupt Hong Kong.
