The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the "sanctions" imposed by the US Government against the 14 vice chairmen of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC).

It urged the US Government to immediately stop interfering in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC) under the geopolitically-motivated pretext of human rights or democracy.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also pointed out that after months of malicious attempts to make use of incidents in Hong Kong to attack the PRC, it should be clear to all that the US government officials and politicians have chosen to ignore the constitutional order of Hong Kong as an inalienable part of the PRC and her status as a Special Administrative Region directly accountable to the Central People's Government and enjoying a high degree of autonomy.

It emphasised that the National People's Congress (NPC) is the highest organ of state power in the PRC and the NPCSC is its permanent body.

The NPC and its Standing Committee have the constitutional power and duty to enact national law and apply it to Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and to monitor the implementation of the Basic Law.

The NPCSC also has the authority to interpret the Basic Law and to handle any constitutional problems arising from the implementation of the Basic Law.

National security is a matter of utmost importance to any state, and laws governing national security are matters for the sovereign state, regardless of whether it is a unitary or federal system of government. Enforcement of national security is likewise under the purview of the central authorities.

Since implementation of the National Security Law, violence has significantly subsided and Hong Kong people could once again enjoy their basic rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.

Regarding the NPCSC's decision on November 11 on the qualification of the Legislative Council members, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it should be noted that swearing allegiance to the system of the country and upholding laws of the state is an international norm for public officers.

The Basic Law clearly stipulates that LegCo members must, in accordance with law, swear to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR.

The NPCSC's decision set out clearly the consequences of LegCo members violating the legal prerequisites and it provided the solid legal basis for the Hong Kong SAR Government to announce the disqualification of the four LegCo members.

The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that the US Government has clearly ignored the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR and the facts relevant to the NPCSC's decisions.

It added that the “sanctions” arbitrarily imposed by the US Government smacks of political manipulation and double standards. It is also blatant interference in the internal affairs of the PRC, violating international law and basic norms governing international relations.

The US Government’s acts are also resented by the people of Hong Kong and the whole nation.