The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproves of and condemns absurd and unfounded remarks on Hong Kong’s situation made by US Consul General to Hong Kong Gregory May in a media interview.

The Government demanded that Mr May immediately cease from making malicious smears and interfering in Hong Kong matters, which it added are purely China’s internal affairs.

The Government said in a statement that ever since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) in June 2020, the US has chosen to overlook the large-scale and incessant riots that devastated society, livelihoods and the economy of Hong Kong in 2019.

Instead, the Government added, the US has chosen to maliciously slander laws relevant to safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, and to blatantly attack the city’s efforts in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law.

The US has also deliberately neglected the fact that the NSL has enabled livelihoods, economic activity and the business environment in Hong Kong to return to normalcy.

The statement highlighted that the Hong Kong SAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, adding that the city is a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” and comes directly under the Central People’s Government.

It also stressed that, since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed both by the Constitution and the Basic Law.

The Government underlined that the legal framework for safeguarding national security in the city is in line with relevant international human rights standards, while the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security.

It elaborated that the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to the Hong Kong SAR, are protected in accordance with the law.

Nonetheless, as in other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute in Hong Kong, the Government stated.

It explained that the ICCPR expressly states that some rights and freedoms may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law that are necessary for the protection of national security, public safety and public order, or the rights and freedoms of others.

That statement added that is an inherent right of each and every sovereign state to enact laws safeguarding national security, as well as being an established international practice.

Further, it highlighted that the US has at least 21 pieces of legislation safeguarding national security, and is therefore in no position to point its finger at the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security.

The Government stressed that the offences endangering national security stipulated by the NSL and the SNSO target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity.

It added that Hong Kong SAR’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of acts concerned.

The statement stressed that law-abiding persons will not unwittingly violate the law, and that the remarks made by Mr May regarding a so-called “chilling effect” are malicious smears against the NSL and the SNSO.

It also reiterated that the Government is steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and will fully and faithfully uphold this top priority of the “one country, two systems” principle.

The Government added that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the city, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment against acts and activities endangering national security, in accordance with the law.

At the same time, the statement added, the Government will protect the legal interests, rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents and other people in Hong Kong in accordance with the law, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.