The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly opposed a so-called resolution by the European Parliament against Hong Kong, and strongly condemned it for making baseless allegations about Hong Kong and smearing the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said in a statement that in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states.

It pointed out that common law jurisdictions, including western countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security. It added that in over-looking this and making exaggerated remarks, the European Parliament had demonstrated political hegemony, hypocrisy and double standards.

The statement noted that the security law and the national security ordinance clearly specify that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, and by the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, are to be protected in accordance with the law.

It added that the European Parliament had chosen to ignore this and instead lashed out wantonly and with malicious intent.

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that extraterritorial effect for offences endangering national security under the security law and ordinance fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions.

It highlighted that the national security laws of various countries, including member states of the European Union, also have extraterritorial effect, adding that Hong Kong’s security law and ordinance take into account the principles of international law and international practice.

It said that the European Parliament’s clamour for so-called sanctions against Hong Kong SAR personnel who dutifully safeguard national security amounted to political grandstanding rife with ill intentions.

The Hong Kong SAR Government urged the European Parliament to stop smearing Hong Kong and interfering in its affairs, which are the internal affairs of China, and to ensure that its remarks concerning Hong Kong’s security law and ordinance are fair and just.