US consul's remarks condemned

January 26, 2023

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the untruthful remarks, vilification and smearing by Consul General of the US to Hong Kong Gregory May regarding the National Security Law (NSL), and the rule of law, rights and freedoms of Hong Kong at a forum held by a US think tank.

 

In a press statement, it also firmly opposed biased comments made against the Hong Kong SAR Government’s work in safeguarding national security.

 

Mr May’s untruthful and unfounded allegations against the implementation of the NSL were clear attempts to make trouble out of nothing and amounted to scaremongering, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed.

 

When Hong Kong suffered from the widespread black-clad violence in 2019, the US Government and politicians did not point out that those acts had caused severe damage to society, the economy and business environment, and seriously harmed the interests of enterprises in Hong Kong. Instead, since the enactment of the NSL in June 2020, they have been repeatedly exploiting different incidents and occasions as well as creating excuses to slander the NSL and attack Hong Kong in its dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the NSL.

 

As to Mr May’s skewed accusation and smearing against the interpretation of the NSL given by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress last year, the Hong Kong SAR Government solemnly stated that the standing committee exercises the power of interpretation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the NSL, which is a fundamental aspect of “one country, two systems” and a manifestation of the rule of law.

 

The interpretation stemmed from the controversial question of whether overseas lawyers who are not qualified to practise generally in Hong Kong may be admitted on an ad hoc basis to participate in cases concerning national security. Through the interpretation of Articles 14 and 47 of the NSL, the standing committee provided clear guidance for the Hong Kong SAR to resolve the issue by itself.

 

Separately, on matters related to co-operation between the US and Hong Kong raised by Mr May, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the city has been proactively maintaining extensive ties and facilitating co-operation with different countries and regions in accordance with the Basic Law, on the proviso that those states must respect “one country, two systems” and must not smear or slander its successful application.

 

Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability will only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised, adding that it will continue to discharge its duty to ensure the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” to better serve citizens and foster the city’s development.

 

The US Government should immediately stop acting against the basic norms governing international relations, and stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs, the Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated.

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