HKSAR Government strongly objects to unfounded remarks about Hong Kong in report on implementation of Common Foreign and Security Policy for 2021 adopted by European Parliament

     In response to the report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy for 2021 adopted by the European Parliament, a spokesperson for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said today (February 18): 

     "The HKSAR Government strongly objects to the unfounded remarks about Hong Kong in the report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy for 2021 adopted by the European Parliament. Such repeated attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of our country and to misrepresent the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' and its implementation in the HKSAR are futile and disgusting.

     "Since the city's return to the motherland, the HKSAR has been implementing the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the Basic Law. The Central Government has time and again made it clear that it will unswervingly implement the policy of 'One Country, Two Systems' which is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's long term prosperity and stability. 

     "The European Parliament should be clear about the fact that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and a local administrative region which enjoys a high degree of autonomy and comes directly under the Central People's Government. As the highest organ of state power in the PRC, the National People's Congress has the constitutional power and duty to enact the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL), a piece of national legislation applied to the HKSAR as provided for in the Basic Law.  

     "Since the implementation of the NSL on June 30, 2020, stability has been restored in Hong Kong society. People's lives and property are protected and they can once again enjoy their legitimate rights and freedoms, which the NSL clearly stipulates shall be protected under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong in accordance with the law. The remark in the report referring to the NSL as a 'crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy and freedoms' could hardly be substantiated as illustrated by survey after survey, which confirmed public support for the NSL and much lessened anxiety among the international business community based in Hong Kong.  

     "We must stress that all law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies, including those under the NSL, are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and have nothing to do with the occupation, background or political stance of the individuals concerned. Also, all prosecutorial decisions made by the Department of Justice are based on evidence, applicable laws and the Prosecution Code, and are free from any interference.  

     "The HKSAR Government will continue to firmly oppose and guard against foreign forces interfering in the internal affairs of Hong Kong."