Barnabas Fung Wah, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission (2nd right), and Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs (2nd left), open the first ballot box of the Legislative Council election at the central counting station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Dec 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Their tricks will only backfire.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region firmly rejected and condemned on Tuesday the misleading statement of the foreign ministers of the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand on the 2021 Legislative Council General Election.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the office said the statement smeared Hong Kong’s new electoral system, questioned the authority of the election results, emboldened anti-China elements in the city and interfered in China’s internal affairs.
We urge politicians in the relevant countries to respect the historical trend of the times, abide by the principles of international law such as non-interference in others’ internal affairs and the basic norms governing international relations, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any form.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR
The spokesperson stressed that the days when external forces could willfully interfere in Hong Kong affairs by supporting political agents are long gone.
“We urge politicians in the relevant countries to respect the historical trend of the times, abide by the principles of international law such as non-interference in others’ internal affairs and the basic norms governing international relations, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any form,” the statement reads.
“Otherwise, their futile attempts will be confronted with our strong counter-response and they themselves will only be remembered as ones who stand on the wrong side of history,” it added.
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The spokesperson pointed out that the White Paper “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” issued by the State Council Information Office on December 20 clearly stated that the Chinese government created, safeguarded and advanced Hong Kong’s system of democracy.
The electoral system improved by the central government shows that democracy in Hong Kong is advancing with the times and it lays a solid foundation for the sound long-term development of democracy in Hong Kong, according to the statement.
Under the new electoral system, the LegCo election embraced its original mission of choosing the able and serving the people, minimized the internal rifts and pan-politicization, and reflected Hong Kong’s mainstream public opinion of seeking stability and development, kicking off a new era of quality democracy in Hong Kong, it added.
The spokesperson pointed out that, as statedin the White Paper, there was no democracy in Hong Kong under British colonial rule. The British colonial government maintained a repressive rule in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong people never enjoyed true democracy, human rights and freedom.
“Some politicians in the US are obsessed with undermining the democratic development and sowing social discords in Hong Kong. They proclaim to advocate 'democracy' and 'freedom', but in effect engage in activities of using Hong Kong to contain China,” the statement reads.
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It added that Australia, Canada and New Zealand also have a bad track record in supporting anti-China elements and damaging democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong.
“Instead of reflecting on themselves and changing course, some politicians in these countries are bent on continuing down the wrong path, going against the mainstream public opinion of Hong Kong people, and running counter to the historical trend of justice. Their tricks will only backfire,” reads the statement.