On January 7, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked a question.
British Foreign Secretary Raab said on the 6th that the recent arrest of political activists by the Hong Kong police is a serious attack on Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms protected by the Sino-British Joint Statement.
How does China comment on this?
Hua Chunyu said that the Hong Kong Liaison Office, the National Security Agency in Hong Kong and other departments have issued statements on the Hong Kong police’ arrest operation in accordance with the law.
The arrested persons are suspected of subversion of state power in violation of Article 22 of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
China is a country under the rule of law, and Hong Kong is a society under the rule of law. We firmly support the Hong Kong police to perform their duties in accordance with the law and maintain national security and Hong Kong’s security and stability.
In response to British Foreign Secretary Raab’s remarks, China has made solemn representations to the British side.
Hua Chunying pointed out that the core content of the Sino-British Joint Statement is that China restores the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and does not give Britain the right to interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs.
After the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government governed Hong Kong on the basis of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
“What rights and freedoms did Britain give to the people of Hong Kong during British colonial rule?” Hua Chunyu pointed out that the fact is that when the British government ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976, it clearly stated by reservation that the provisions of the Convention on periodic elections do not apply in Hong Kong.
The public security regulations and association regulations in the Hong Kong and British period imposed strict restrictions on assemblies, marches and associations.
It was precisely after the return of Hong Kong that with the effective implementation of the policy of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong residents enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms.
This is a fact that no objective and unbiased person can deny.
Hua Chundi finally stressed that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs.
Britain should put aside its colonial mentality, abandon the illusion of continuing colonial influence in Hong Kong, put aside hypocrisy and double standards, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs in any form and China’s internal affairs.
