Question: On 22 October, the UK government published its 59th six-monthly report on Hong Kong, once again using the Sino-British Joint Declaration as a pretext to make unwarranted comments on Hong Kong affairs and interfere in China’s internal affairs. What is the Embassy’s comment?

Embassy Spokesperson: The UK has continued to churn out the so-called “six-monthly report” and make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs, which constitutes gross interference in China’s internal affairs. China firmly opposes this and has made solemn representations to the UK.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is essentially about China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It does not give the UK any right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs after the handover. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the constitutional and legal basis for the Chinese government’s governance of Hong Kong has been China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. British colonial rule in Hong Kong is long gone. The UK has no sovereignty over Hong Kong, nor does it have any right of governance or supervision over Hong Kong. It is in no position and has no right to meddle in Hong Kong affairs.

Since Hong Kong’s return, the practice of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong has achieved universally recognised success. In Hong Kong today, security and the rule of law are effectively upheld; governance efficiency has markedly improved; public order is maintained; the business environment continues to improve; the economy is thriving; and the rights and freedoms of its residents are fully protected in accordance with the law. Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. The Hong Kong judiciary’s handling of the Jimmy Lai case and the “Hong Kong Alliance” case in accordance with the law brooks no interference.

Hong Kong has long returned to China, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. China urges the UK to abandon its colonial mentality, respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law, stop issuing the so-called “six-monthly report”, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs in any way.