Question: It is reported that the UK government has recently published its 57th Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, once again using the Sino-British Joint Declaration a a pretext to make unwarranted comments on Hong Kong affairs. What is the Embassy's comment on this?

Embassy Spokesperson: China firmly opposes the UK's fabrication of the so-called report, which smears China's Hong Kong policy and meddles in China's internal affairs. China has lodged serious representations with the UK over this matter.

It must be pointed out that the essence of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It did not confer on the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong after its return to China. Following Hong Kong's return, the constitutional and legal basis for the Chinese government's governance of Hong Kong lies in China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK has neither the right nor the position to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

The practice of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong has achieved widely recognised success. The enactment and implementation of the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, together with the improvement of the Hong Kong SAR's electoral system, have enabled Hong Kong to move from chaos to order and further advance from order to greater prosperity. Hong Kong's security, democracy, and the freedoms and rights of its people are now better protected, and its development prospects are brighter than ever.

It must be stressed that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. No one is allowed to engage in illegal or criminal activities under the pretext of "democracy" or "freedom" and attempt to escape the sanctions of the law. The law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Hong Kong SAR act strictly in accordance with the law in combating crime, upholding the authority of the law, and safeguarding national security. Their actions are justified, reasonable and lawful, and must not be smeared or defamed.

China urges the UK to abandon its colonial mindset, respect facts, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs. Otherwise, it will only bring further humiliation upon itself.