Hong Kong's government accused Britain of “slander and slander” after London on Monday sought to reassure Hongkongers in the UK that they are “safe” from the national security law and will not tolerate attempts by foreign countries to cause them harm. He strongly condemned interference in regional issues. Domestic individuals.
In a statement late Monday night, the government said Britain was repeating old tricks, ignoring facts, fabricating lies, prioritizing politics over the rule of law and confusing good and bad about all aspects of Hong Kong.
He said Britain had blatantly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs in a futile attempt to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
The strongly worded response comes in London's latest half-year report on Hong Kong, where the British foreign minister said nearly all political opposition had been “eliminated” under national security laws imposed on the city in 2020. This is in response to comments made by David Cameron.
“Dissent is being criminalized. Civil society is being marginalized,” he said in his 54th report to the UK Parliament, covering the period from July to December last year.
“Hong Kong authorities' efforts to root out 'soft resistance' target even the smallest deviation from unwavering support for Hong Kong and the Chinese government.”
Since July 1997, the Foreign Secretary has been required to report to Parliament every six months on the implementation of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the agreement that paved the way for Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty.
It was former Prime Minister David Cameron's first report on the city since he began his term as foreign secretary in November last year.
Prime Minister Cameron has made the national security law extraterritorial by allowing Hong Kong authorities to issue arrest warrants for 13 rebels living abroad, mainly in the UK, and to issue HK$1 million in rewards for each. He said he was trying to execute the sentence.
“We will not tolerate any attempt by foreign powers to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK.”
“The National Security Act has no power in the UK. We have no active extradition agreements with Hong Kong or China. We want to reassure our valued British Hong Kong community that they are safe here. I want to guarantee it.”
He accused the Chinese government of violating the joint declaration by imposing the national security law.
Under the agreement, China and the UK agreed to maintain a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense matters, for at least 50 years after the handover in 1997.
“This law was rushed through the legislative process and is likely to be inconsistent with international human rights law,” he said.
“This does not meet the international standards that Hong Kong is committed to upholding and will negatively impact the ability of Hong Kong people to exercise their rights and freedoms.”
Hong Kong implemented an internal national security law on March 23, targeting five main activities. Riot, incitement of rebellion or discontent, or acts with seditious intent. sabotage. External interference that endangers national security. and theft of state secrets and espionage.
The government also said on Monday that the national security law enforced by the Chinese government is extraterritorial, and police have a responsibility to track down those suspected of violating the law abroad.
