Question: The UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that the Law Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR has been used to “crush rights and freedoms, not protect public security”, and that the UK “will not duck” its “historic responsibilities” to the Hong Kong people. What is the comment of the Chinese Embassy in the UK?

Embassy Spokesperson: Today marks the 24th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China. It is also a full year now since the Law Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR came into force. It is a joyous day to the Chinese people, including our Hong Kong compatriots.

The UK official’s tweet which contains deliberate discrediting of the Law Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR are contrary to the facts and confuse right and wrong. This represents blatant interference in China’s internal affairs and trampling on the basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side is gravely concerned and strongly opposes this.

Since the Law Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR came into force a year ago, social stability has been restored, justice and rule of law has been upheld, and the rights and freedoms of the residents have been truly safeguarded in Hong Kong. The city has turned a new chapter with chaos giving way to prosperity. The UK side, however, has turned a blind eye to the important role that the Law has played in restoring order and kept slinging slanders at the Law. This raises further question about the intention of the above-mentioned tweet.

Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented and lawful rights and freedoms in the past 24 years since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over the city where, in contrast, the residents never enjoyed any right or freedom during the 156 years of British colonial rule. Blaming China groundlessly instead of reflecting on UK’s colonial history only reveals the typical practice of hypocrisy and double-standards!

Hong Kong is part of China. Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The British colonial rule over Hong Kong was long gone, and the UK has no right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs under any excuse. The Chinese side urges the UK side to respect the facts, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, and avoid going further down on the wrong path.