The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today that it strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects the reauthorisation by the US of Sanctions Provisions under its Hong Kong Human Rights & Democracy Act, as incorporated in its National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said that in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter, each and every sovereign state has an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security. It highlighted that the US itself has at least 21 pieces of legislation safeguarding national security, and is therefore guilty of double standards by pointing the finger at Hong Kong's national security legislation.

Moreover, the statement underlined that the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong.

The offences endangering national security that are stipulated in these laws target specific acts with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, it added, stating also that the offences target only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents.

The statement elaborated that the US clamour for “sanctions” is a despicable attempt to intimidate Hong Kong SAR officials who are involved in safeguarding national security, and is a demonstration of political grandstanding. It added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely continue to discharge its duty of safeguarding national security.

In addition, the statement outlined that the Hong Kong SAR Government fully and vigorously enforces sanctions resolutions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in order to fulfill its international obligations.

This includes denying entry to vessels sanctioned by the UNSC and other suspicious vessels, and monitoring Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities that might constitute evasion of UNSC sanctions, it said.

The statement added that the Hong Kong SAR Government has a comprehensive and robust control regime in place with regard to the import and export of “strategic commodities” and participates in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty, both of which the central government is a signatory to.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the effectiveness of its work in these areas is well respected and recognised by trading partners and internationally.

Noting that the US has substantial economic interests in Hong Kong, the statement said the country had a trade surplus totalling about US$270 billion in relation to Hong Kong over the past decade. It pointed out that the some 1,390 US companies currently operate in the city, stressing that the US government's actions endanger the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, and harm the interests of US companies.

The statement reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of Hong Kong.