The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned and opposed the US government for wantonly slandering the Hong Kong SAR’s resolute implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) under the pretext of the so-called "national emergency".
 
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said that the US government has once again overridden the rule of law with politics, politicising human rights issues, and deliberately smearing the Hong Kong SAR’s lawful implementation of the NSL to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security.
 
The US has repeated its tactics and breached the international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and wantonly interfering with the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong matters by extending again the so-called “national emergency with respect to Hong Kong”, which is a despicable political manipulation, the statement pointed out.
 
The US has time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong's situation and imposed so-called “sanctions” on Hong Kong pursuant to its domestic law, attempting to interfere with its law-based governance and undermine the city's rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability, it added.
 
The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly condemned the political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.
 
It made it clear that the offences endangering national security stipulated by the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity.
 
The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had the actus reus and mens rea of an offence before the defendant may be convicted by the court, and law-abiding persons will not unwittingly violate the law.
 
The Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions to fight resolutely against acts and activities endangering national security based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law.
 
Noting that human rights in Hong Kong have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that the legal framework in safeguarding national security in the city is in line with international human rights standards since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
 
The NSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and 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 protected in accordance with the law.
 
Endangering national security is a very serious offence, and no country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security. The NSL and the SNSO act like a sturdier door of Hong Kong and a more effective door lock to defend the home, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed.
 
It stated that it will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other laws safeguarding national security in the city to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of the people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
 
The Hong Kong SAR Government added that it strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters which are purely China's internal affairs.