National flags and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags adorn a street in Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on June 17, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
BEIJING / HONG KONG – Any actions and activities aimed at meddling in China's internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs, undermining China's national security and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong are not allowed and are doomed to fail, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily news briefing when answering a query relevant to the so-called "farewell remarks" of Hanscom Smith, outgoing US Consul General in Hong Kong.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily news briefing when answering a query relevant to the so-called "farewell remarks" of Hanscom Smith, outgoing US Consul General in Hong Kong
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has already made a solemn response to this," Wang said. Wang added that the US consular official disregarded facts, made wild talks on China's Hong Kong policy, and denigrated Hong Kong's political and economic situation. The Chinese side deplores and rejects this.
Wang said, since the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, national security has been safeguarded, Hong Kong society has been brought back to the right track, and the rule of law and justice have been upheld.
ALSO READ: US diplomat's NSL comments unfair, says HKSAR govt
"It is highly recognized by all sectors of Hong Kong's society and welcomed by the international community," Wang added.
According to a poll, 76.2 percent of Hong Kong residents believe the freedom granted by the Basic Law has not been affected since the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR. Also, 63 percent believe the law has improved Hong Kong's business environment.
"China has always provided necessary assistance and support for foreign consular offices in Hong Kong to perform their duties per the law," Wang said. Wang added that foreign consular offices and staff in Hong Kong must respect and abide by Hong Kong laws, including the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations.
"Any attempts aimed at meddling in China's internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs, undermining China's national security and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong are not allowed and doomed to fail," Wang said.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Tuesday strongly disapproved and condemned the continuation of the so-called "national emergency with respect to Hong Kong" announced by the White House, which is the latest case of the US intervention in Hong Kong affairs.
The spokesperson pointed out that for US politicians, HKSAR's stability and sound governance is not in line with the strategic goals and fundamental interests of the United States, adding the more stable Hong Kong is, the more anxious they are.
The spokesperson stressed that the US unilateral sanctions have no basis in international law and have no legitimacy at all, adding that no matter how the United States sugarcoats its sanctions, it cannot conceal its illegal nature of seriously violating the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations
The spokesperson pointed out that the US sanctions against Hong Kong on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland have once again exposed America's power politics and hegemonic thinking.
The United States overstretched the concept of national security by linking Hong Kong to its "national emergency," and claimed that the Hong Kong situation poses a threat to its national security, which is a sheer excuse for arbitrary sanctions against Hong Kong and is gross interference in China's internal affairs.
The spokesperson stressed that the US unilateral sanctions have no basis in international law and have no legitimacy at all, adding that no matter how the United States sugarcoats its sanctions, it cannot conceal its illegal nature of seriously violating the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations.
ALSO READ: 'Smear campaign' against NSL for HK draws condemnation
The spokesperson said over the past 25 years since Hong Kong returned to the motherland, with the full support of the central government and the common efforts of the HKSAR government and all social sectors, the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has been a universally recognized success.
With the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the successful practice of the new electoral system in the HKSAR, China's national security has been better safeguarded, Hong Kong society more stable and united, and Hong Kong's democratic development back on the right track, which all contributed to a new chapter of sound governance in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson stressed that Hong Kong is in a new stage of moving from chaos to stability and then to greater prosperity and facts have proved that US sanctions are just pieces of waste paper.
With the strong support of the central government and the firm backing of the motherland, the new SAR government will rally and lead all Hong Kong residents to build Hong Kong a better place, the spokesperson said.
READ MORE: DOJ: NSL in line with global practice on national security
Sanctions to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will never succeed, and the attempts to play the "Hong Kong card" to curb China's development is just wishful thinking, the spokesperson said.