Published: 11:39, September 13, 2024
HKSAR govt blasts 'misleading' UK report on HK matters
By Stephy Zhang in Hong Kong
This June 23, 2016 photo shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

A central government office and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Thursday strongly condemned the United Kingdom’s biased six-monthly report on Hong Kong, revealing its nature as a political tool for interfering in the city’s affairs.

The UK government’s 55th edition of the report tarnished the “one country, two systems” framework, disparaged national security laws enacted by the SAR, and blatantly meddled in HKSAR affairs and China’s internal matters.

In a statement, the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR emphasized that the report habitually presents a biased narrative and presumptive evaluations of the situation in the SAR, clearly demonstrating double standards. The report has long been a political tool for the UK’s normalized interference in Hong Kong affairs.

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The spokesperson further defended the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and related regulations, asserting that these actions adhere fully to international law and common practices of other common law countries, while respecting and safeguarding human rights.

The Office urged the UK to abandon its imperialistic mindset, respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in HKSAR affairs and China’s domestic affairs.

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The Hong Kong SAR government also hit out at the misleading and irresponsible report about Hong Kong matters.

A government spokesperson said the UK wantonly put politics above the rule of law and attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance by despicable political maneuvers.

The HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, and as a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the principle of “one country, two systems”, comes directly under the jurisdiction of the Central People's Government, the spokesperson added.

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The HKSAR Government strongly urges the UK again to respect the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in HKSAR matters, which are purely China's internal affairs.

stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com