On July 1st, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming met with Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. During the meeting, Ambassador Liu categorically rejected the unwarranted accusations of the UK side against the national security law for Hong Kong SAR and stated China’s solemn position regarding the wrong remarks and deeds of the UK side.

Ambassador Liu said, the recent remarks by the UK side on the national security law for Hong Kong SAR are irresponsible and unwarranted. They represent a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and run counter to the important principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs endorsed by the UN Charter and the Joint Communiqué of the UK and China on exchange of ambassadors. The Chinese side expresses its grave concern and strong opposition.

Ambassador Liu said, it is always the central government of a country that is responsible for upholding national security. The national security law for Hong Kong SAR is timely, necessary and reasonable. This is the fundamental solution that will end the chaos and restore order in Hong Kong. It demonstrates the inherent requirements of “One Country, Two Systems” and will ensure the steady and sustained implementation of this important policy. The law applies to four categories of criminal behaviors that gravely undermine national security. It will target a very few criminals but protect the vast majority of Hong Kong people. It fulfills the aspiration of Hong Kong residents for a safer, better and more prosperous Hong Kong, and answers their call for better security safeguards so that they can enjoy and exercise their statutory rights and freedom.

Ambassador Liu stressed, the core content of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is to make sure that Hong Kong returns to China. Not a single word or paragraph in the Joint Declaration gives the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong after its handover. The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of “supervision” over Hong Kong after the handover. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Its affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference. China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests. The Chinese side urges the UK side to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are internal affairs of China.