This photo dated April 21, 2021 shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Wednesday vehemently refuted the "report" issued by the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission for making slanderous remarks and ill-intentioned political attacks against the HKSAR.
In a statement issued early on Wednesday, the government said the SAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China and urged the US to respect the basic norms governing international relations and stop maliciously interfering in the territory’s affairs.
The government said the SAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China and urged the US to respect the basic norms governing international relations and stop maliciously interfering in the territory’s affairs
The government pointed out the untruthful allegations against the improved electoral system of the HKSAR in the "report", adding that the electoral reforms put in place legal safeguards to ensure full implementation of "patriots administering Hong Kong".
“Keeping political power in the hands of patriots is a political rule commonly adopted in the world. No one in any country or region in the world will ever allow political power to fall into the hands of forces or individuals who do not love, or even sell out or betray, their own country,” the government said.
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It said the seventh-term Legislative Council and the sixth-term Chief Executive elections were held in an “open, fair and honest manner, fully demonstrating broad representation, fair competition, political inclusiveness and balanced participation of the new electoral system.”
“The new electoral system entirely conforms to both the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and the actual situation of Hong Kong,” the government said.
“It is conducive to safeguarding Hong Kong residents' democratic rights and Hong Kong's democratic development, and maintaining Hong Kong's long term prosperity and stability,” it added.
The government also said that the “report” made up excuses which deviate from the facts to maliciously slander the National Security Law for Hong Kong, adding that this showed “its despicable political motives.”
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The government noted that all law enforcement actions are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and the acts of the suspects, and have nothing to do with their politics, background or occupation.
“Suggestions that persons or organizations with certain backgrounds should be immune to legal sanctions for their illegal acts and activities and be granted privileges to break the law are totally contrary to the rule of law,” the government said.
It said enacting local legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law is the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR.
“The HKSAR government is taking forward the work concerned. (The commission’s) attempt to smear the legislative exercise before any legislative proposals are promulgated is contemptible,” the government said.
The government also said that it will safeguard independent judicial power and human rights, adding that the NSL clearly stipulates that the important principles of the rule of law should be adhered to, including the presumption of innocence and protection of the right to defend oneself
The government also said that it will safeguard independent judicial power and human rights, adding that the NSL clearly stipulates that the important principles of the rule of law should be adhered to, including the presumption of innocence and protection of the right to defend oneself.
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The HKSAR government also strongly opposed the false ideas in the "report" concerning the curricula of Chinese History and Citizenship and Social Development in secondary education and the language education policy in Hong Kong.
“They are biased, unsubstantiated and twisting the facts,” the government said.
It said the subject-based Chinese mainland study tour and its related project learning is an integral part of the curriculum.
“It provides students with the opportunities to gain first-hand understanding of our country and develop deeper knowledge of and appreciation for the Chinese culture,” the government said.
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The government also said that the "report" distorted the truth by equating the curriculum refinement based on objective facts with falsification of history, exposing the malicious intent and corrupting political motives of the commission.
Also, claims that the importance of Cantonese was being downplayed are fabricated and completely false, it added.
The government also expressed strong opposition to the “report” for slandering the territory’s anti-pandemic policies, noting that the vaccination rate in the US is even “much lower than that in HKSAR.”
“There is no place for the US to comment on the anti-epidemic policies of China, including HKSAR,” the government said.
With its distinct advantages, Hong Kong remains one of the most competitive economies worldwide, with the Canadian Fraser Institute ranking the SAR as the world's freest economy in the Economic Freedom of the World 2022 Annual Report.
The government said the HKSAR's status as an international financial center is unshakable, noting that three-quarters of the global top 100 banks have established presence in Hong Kong
Hong Kong also remains as the third largest destination for global foreign direct investment in the World Investment Report 2022 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the government said.
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‘In fact, the HKSAR government noticed that the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong recently expressed that most of its members intended to stay in Hong Kong,” it added.
The government said the HKSAR's status as an international financial center is unshakable, noting that three-quarters of the global top 100 banks have established presence in Hong Kong.
“We have also been the world's number-one initial public offering fundraising centre in seven of the last thirteen years and the world's largest centre for arranging Asian international bonds for the past six years in a row; and with over $4.5 trillion worth of assets under management,” the government said.
“As Hong Kong returns to normalcy gradually, international financial institutions have reiterated their confidence in and commitment to Hong Kong as an international financial centre, and are planning to expand their business and investment in Hong Kong,” it added.