The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday said it strongly opposes the UK’s Six-monthly report on Hong Kong and US Hong Kong Policy Act Report in response to the unfounded remarks on Hong Kong-related affairs.
The UK government on Thursday issued a Six-monthly report on Hong Kong: July to December 2021. It is the 50th in a series of reports to Parliament on Hong Kong.
On the same day, the US government also released the 2022 Hong Kong Policy Act Report.
“We strongly oppose the unfounded and ridiculous allegations against the HKSAR Government made by foreign countries through various reports,” a spokesperson of the HKSAR government said.
The spokesperson noted that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” and comes directly under the Central People’s Government (CPG), urging foreign countries to stop interfering in the internal affairs of China through Hong Kong affairs.
The spokesperson said the HKSAR government strongly opposes the misleading accusations against the 2021 Legislative Council general election, National Security Law, judicial Independence and press freedom in the reports.
The 2021 Legislative Council general election is an important election held after the improvements to the electoral system of the HKSAR which fully implements the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong.” The election was conducted in accordance with the law, and was open, fair, honest, and efficient, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson pointed out that the HKSAR Government reiterates that all law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies under the National Security Law, or indeed any local legislation, are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background, or occupation.
“Article 63 of the Basic Law stipulates those prosecutions in the HKSAR are made by the Department of Justice, free from any interference,” the spokesperson noted.
Judicial independence in Hong Kong after the implementation of the National Security Law remains as robust as ever. The independence of the judiciary is constitutionally guaranteed under the Basic Law, the spokesperson said.
The HKSAR Government must also point out that the media landscape in Hong Kong is as vibrant as ever. A total of 211 media organizations, be they based locally, in the mainland or overseas, are registered with the HKSAR Government News and Media Information System of the Information Services Department at present, showing an increase after the implementation of the National Security Law, the spokesperson said.
Hong Kong File Photo: Xinhua
