The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today issued a strong condemnation of the US for including central authorities and Hong Kong SAR officials on a “sanctions list”.

In a statement, it said the move was a despicable attempt to intimidate officials and amounted to barbarity.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that it will make every effort to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all personnel, and that its officials will continue to resolutely discharge their duty of safeguarding national security.

It said that the reason absconders from Hong Kong who are at large in countries such as the US, the UK and Australia have had arrest warrants issued against them by Hong Kong courts is not because they have “exercised their freedom of speech”, but because they continue to engage in activities endangering national security. It explained that these activities include inciting secession and requesting that foreign countries impose “sanctions” or engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR.

The statement outlined that it is necessary for the Hong Kong SAR to take all lawful measures to combat such acts. It said such measures are aimed at combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment, and at procuring the return of the absconded persons to Hong Kong to face judicial proceedings.

Moreover, it stressed that all the measures align with human rights requirements, adding that countries including the US, the UK and Canada would impose similar measures on wanted criminals.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that in an attempt to mislead the public the US had deliberately smeared Hong Kong and spread irresponsible remarks about measures and actions taken in accordance with the law.

It also stated that the US has disregarded the non-interference principle of international law, choosing instead to interfere with other countries’ internal affairs, groom agents, instigate colour revolutions, and create social unrest and multiple humanitarian disasters through economic and military coercion, causing suffering to people in many countries.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that with China’s central authorities enacting Hong Kong’s National Security Law and the Hong Kong SAR implementing Article 23 of its Basic Law, the legal regime in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong has been strengthened, prevented the US from succeeding in its aims.

It added that false accusations by the US against Hong Kong SAR personnel involved in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law, and the imposition of “sanctions” in the guise of defending human rights and democracy, constitute a demonstration of shameless hypocrisy.

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that it has a responsibility to pursue those who suspected of committing offences endangering national security and absconding overseas.

It added that Hong Kong law enforcement agencies’ actions are evidence-based and are taken in strict accordance with the law in respect of acts committed by people or entities, having nothing to do with their political views, background or occupation. In addition, it said, the Department of Justice makes prosecutorial decisions based on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws.