The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned and opposed the US Congress' Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US & the Chinese Communist Party and the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China for making untruthful, slandering and smearing remarks against Basic Law Article 23 legislation and its efforts in safeguarding national security.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted that the committee and the commission made these remarks in a letter to the US Government, adding that they also demanded the US Government to impose so-called "sanctions" on its officials, judges, prosecutors and police officers as well as made slandering remarks and despicable threats against the relevant personnel.

The so-called “sanctions” mentioned in the letter smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate the Hong Kong SAR officials safeguarding national security and grossly interfere in Hong Kong affairs which are China's internal affairs, violating international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

Hong Kong despises such “sanctions” and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. It will resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.

Enacting legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law and refining the laws concerning safeguarding national security are the constitutional responsibilities of the Hong Kong SAR. In accordance with international law and practice based on the United Nations Charter, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states.

It is each and every sovereign state's inherent right and international practice to enact laws safeguarding national security. The US has at least 21 pieces of law safeguarding national security and is therefore not in a position to point its finger at Hong Kong for legitimately legislating to safeguard national security.

The statement said US politicians once again targeted the Hong Kong SAR Government's work on safeguarding national security and made slandering, smearing, misleading and erroneous remarks against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), showing their despicable political manoeuvre and hypocrisy with double standards.

The SNSO clearly specifies that the rights and freedoms enshrined in 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 to be protected in accordance with the law. US politicians neglected the relevant provision and lashed out wantonly, the statement added.

As regards the case on the conspiracy to commit subversion mentioned in the letter, the statement said the verdict delivered by the court clearly stated that the criminal acts in the case aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the Hong Kong SAR established under the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle.

Such criminal acts endangering national security had nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights, it added.

In the 318-page judgment, the court has clearly set out the rationale and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed that the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion had taken place.

Forty-seven people were charged in the case. Apart from two defendants against whom the evidence was found insufficient to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offence, the remaining defendants were convicted, indicating the scale and seriousness of the criminal plan.

The Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the people or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation, the statement said.

The suggestion that certain individuals should be immune from the legal consequences for their illegal acts, including those involved in subversion, is no different from advocating a special pass to break the law, totally running contrary to the spirit of the rule of law, it added.

As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the National Security Law, the SNSO and relevant laws safeguarding national security in Hong Kong to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security.

It strongly demands US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are purely China's internal affairs, and stop maliciously smearing the laws safeguarding national security in the city as well as the law enforcement, prosecution and adjudication of the relevant cases.