In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government made the following response today (March 22) to the Hong Kong Policy Act Report issued by the United States Department of State:
"Since the return to the motherland, the HKSAR has been exercising 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the Basic Law. The 'one country, two systems' principle has been fully and successfully implemented.
"As a matter of fact, Hong Kong has all along been a vibrant, highly open and international city. The Heritage Foundation of the United States has ranked Hong Kong the world's freest economy for 25 consecutive years. Hong Kong ranks first in Asia in terms of judicial independence. We are also one of the world's safest cities.
"Human rights and freedom in Hong Kong are fully protected by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislation. The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to them and is determined to safeguard them.
"However, relevant international human rights conventions and court cases have clearly pointed out that freedom of speech is not absolute. The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Any suggestion for 'Hong Kong's independence' is a blatant violation of the Basic Law and a direct affront to the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the PRC. 'Hong Kong's independence' runs counter to the successful implementation of 'one country, two systems' and undermines the HKSAR's constitutional and legal foundations as enshrined in the Basic Law.
"For other issues mentioned in the report, including the prohibition of the operation of the Hong Kong National Party, a visa application case, the Legislative Council By-election in November 2018 and the 2019 Rural Ordinary Election, the HKSAR Government emphasises that it has all along been handling Hong Kong affairs strictly in accordance with the 'one country, two systems' principle, the Basic Law and the laws of Hong Kong.
"The HKSAR Government reiterates that foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR."
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