The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today it strongly disapproves of and rejects biased reporting in a New York Times article on the National Security Exhibition Gallery at the Hong Kong Museum of History.

In a statement, it iterated that the article, headlined “A History Museum Shows How China Wants to Remake Hong Kong” carries false and misleading narratives about the gallery.

The Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that the National Security Exhibition Gallery is the first thematic gallery in the Hong Kong SAR dedicated to the systematic promotion of national security education, adding that it aims to enhance general knowledge and understanding of national security-related concepts and issues, and to deepen visitors' appreciation of the positive significance of national security.

The gallery serves to promote patriotism and affection for the country, fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership among citizens towards safeguarding national security, while also emphasising Hong Kong's unique advantages of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world, the statement added.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the article completely overlooked the large-scale and incessant riots and the failed attempt to stage a “colour revolution” in Hong Kong in 2019, as well as the fact that these attempts devastated Hong Kong’s society, livelihood and economy. It added that the New York Times demonstrated hypocrisy with doubled standards by neglecting to recognise that the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law has allowed livelihoods, economic activities and the city's overall business environment to return to normalcy.

The statement emphasised that the newspaper's untruthful reporting on the gallery twists the facts and is completely out of order.

After opening to the public on August 7, the number of visitors to it had surpassed 10,000 by the fourth day. Many have found that its contents are comprehensive, detailed, and interactive, and that they cater to visitors of all age groups.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that the gallery has received very positive reviews from visitors, adding that the exhibition has achieved its aim of enhancing citizens' awareness of the significance of safeguarding national security. It stressed that the gallery will continue to promote national security education, supporting the full and faithful implementation of principle of “one country, two systems” in service of the city's long-term prosperity and stability.

The Hong Kong SAR Government added that attempts by foreign or external forces to smear the gallery's positive significance only expose their own weaknesses and are doomed to fail.