The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of untrue and biased remarks by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper regarding lawful acts by Hong Kong to pursue wanted individuals who have absconded from Hong Kong.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government demanded that the UK Government stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, stressing that these are purely China’s internal affairs.

Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament” have been put on the city’s wanted list.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the “Hong Kong Parliament” aims to subvert state power through objectives that include promoting “self-determination”, promulgating a “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining by unlawful means the basic system and power of the People’s Republic of China or of the Hong Kong SAR.

The 19 individuals are suspected of committing the offence of subversion, contrary to Article 22 of the National Security Law. The Hong Kong Police Force applied for arrest warrants for them and has put them on the wanted list.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that absconders hiding in the UK and other Western countries are wanted because they blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, and even collude with external forces to cover for their evil deeds. It added that it is therefore justified, necessary and legitimate for the Police Force to take all lawful measures to combat such acts of abscondment.

Moreover, the Hong Kong SAR Government remarked that the UK has at least 14 items of legislation to protect British national security, and has therefore displayed hypocrisy and double standards by pointing fingers at Hong Kong’s legal system and attempts to safeguard national security.

It emphasised that it will exhaust all possible means to pursue and combat criminals who abscond from Hong Kong, and to ensure that violations of the law are cracked down on.

The wanted individuals are urged to return to Hong Kong and surrender.

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that it will continue to resolutely discharge its duty of safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.