Q: On March 29, the U.S. State Department released the "Hong Kong Policy Act Report", and Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on this. What is your response?

A: Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, which brook no foreign interference. The U.S. side disregards facts, makes irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong affairs, and levels groundless accusations at the Chinese Central Government and the Hong Kong SAR government. It has time and again discredited and smeared Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, threatening to impose unwarranted unilateral sanctions on Hong Kong and even put sanctions on Hong Kong officials who perform their duties. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this. The US should immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and other internal affairs of China.

Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance strikes a balance between safeguarding national security and ensuring rights, freedoms and economic growth. It has made full reference from the legislation experience of other countries, especially common law jurisdictions, fully respects and protects human rights, clearly defines elements of crime, and distinguishes between crime and non-crime. It provides effective protection for the normal business activities of foreign institutions, organizations and personnel in Hong Kong and their need for international exchanges. It does not at all undermine the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, nor does it change the current capitalist system and way of life in Hong Kong. It will enable Hong Kong to better leverage its unique status and strengths, better deepen exchanges and cooperation with various countries and regions, and better consolidate its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center. The US itself has an airtight national security system, with a large number of laws and unparalleled extraterritoriality. However, it keeps pointing fingers at Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. This is sheer political manipulation and hypocritical double standards.

Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the policy of One Country, Two Systems under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy has been implemented, and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have been fully protected in accordance with law. Since we implemented the national security law and improved the electoral system, Hong Kong’s rule of law and business environment has been improving and the city continues to rank among the best in the world in terms of rule of law. Foreign investors are more confident in Hong Kong, further consolidating its status as an international financial, trade and shipping hub. These are all undeniable facts.

The Chinese government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and implement the One Country, Two Systems. We urge the US to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and rule of law in Hong Kong, adhere to the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs.