The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday expressed strong disapproval of and firm opposition against the unwarranted remarks by the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong (FCC) on China's countermeasures against U.S. restrictions on Chinese media agencies.
The announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China that the relevant journalists of U.S. citizenship will not be allowed to continue working as journalists in the People's Republic of China, including its Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, is a necessary and reciprocal countermeasure China is compelled to take in response to the U.S. oppression of Chinese media organizations there, a spokesperson of the commissioner's office said.
The measure is legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense, and it is not China that started all this in the first place. Therefore, instead of confounding right with wrong and making groundless accusations against China, the FCC should address its complaints to the U.S. administration, urging the latter to immediately change course, undo the damage, and stop its political oppression of and arbitrary restrictions on Chinese media organizations, the spokesperson noted.
The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China, and China's decision on the countermeasures falls within the central government's purview over foreign affairs in accordance with the "one country, two systems" and the HKSAR Basic Law, which is completely legitimate, fair and reasonable.
"The allegation of 'interference from the Chinese government' in Hong Kong affairs is patently absurd. We suggest the FCC study the Basic Law, and fully and accurately understand and respect the 'one country, two systems' principle, so as to tell right from wrong and avoid making false accusations," said the spokesperson.
"We are resolutely against any attempt by external forces to abuse the freedom of the press as a pretext for meddling with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large," the spokesperson added.
