Photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in China's Hong Kong, July 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)
The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expressed Wednesday firm opposition against the latest annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that interferes in Hong Kong affairs, China's internal affairs.
The report is full of bias and applies double standards, a spokesperson of the office said in a statement.
The spokesperson said the report heaps abuses on China's moves to safeguard national security but ignores that the United States has long abused the concept of national security.
The report attacks the protective jurisdiction of the national security law in the HKSAR but mentions nothing about the United States' exercise of long-arm jurisdiction over other countries, the spokesperson said.
The report vilifies the HKSAR's decision to postpone Legislative Council (LegCo) election but turns a blind eye to the delay or cancellation of elections in over a dozen U.S. states, the spokesperson said.
The report criticizes the requirement of LegCo members to fulfill their constitutional obligation to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the HKSAR, but neglects the United States' requirement of members of the Congress to swear to support the U.S. Constitution, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that the report distorts the fact by accusing China of undermining "one country, two systems."
The Chinese central government has implemented "one country, two systems" in strict accordance with the Constitution of China and the Hong Kong Basic Law, the spokesperson said, stressing that Hong Kong's international rankings for freedoms, judicial system and the rule of law have surged and its people are enjoying extensive rights and freedoms unimaginable in the colonial era.
The national security legislation for Hong Kong by the central authorities this year aims to plug legal loopholes in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has made a decision to reaffirm the political ethics and legal principle that Hong Kong shall be governed by those loving both the country and Hong Kong, while those sowing trouble in Hong Kong and China at large should be out, the spokesperson said.
The efforts stayed committed to the original aspiration of "one country, two systems," improved its institutional framework and ensured the enduring success of the policy, which have gained broad support among the 1.4 billion Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots and the international community and marked a major turning point for Hong Kong to regain its stability, the spokesperson said.
The anti-China forces have colluded to deny and challenge "one country" on the pretext of "two systems," the spokesperson said.
The United States revoked Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory, predicted doom and gloom for Hong Kong's business environment, and endorsed the attempt to paralyze the body of power of the HKSAR by those with a "burn with us" mentality and criminals, the spokesperson said.
It goes without saying who is safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and who is undermining "one country, two systems," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson pointed out that the report lambastes the efforts by the central and HKSAR governments to address root problems and set things right, recommends extending political asylum to and removing visa barriers for anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong, and resorts to the old tactic of sanctions.
It is a flagrant interference with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, a clumsy show to put domestic laws above international laws, and a contravention of international laws and basic norms governing international relations, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China, and its affairs are China's internal affairs, which allow no external interference, adding that the annual report has no credibility at all.
Hong Kong's future is closely intertwined with its motherland and "one country, two systems" will stand unaffected by any smear campaign, the spokesperson said.
The attempts to play Hong Kong as a card to contain China, and to meddle with and exert maximum pressure on China are doomed to fail, the spokesperson said, urging certain U.S. politicians to act prudently and refrain from further interference.
