HONG KONG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday expressed strong disapproval of and firm opposition against the interferences in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs by external forces in a statement.
The statement came in response to some unwarranted comments about Hong Kong made by some Western politicians, senior officials of international organizations and the European Parliament.
A spokesperson of the commissioner's office condemned such remarks in the statement, pointing out that safeguarding national security is the first and foremost factor of national sovereignty. No country would ever leave acts endangering national security on its territory unchecked, or allow loopholes in its national security mechanism and legislation to remain open.
Hong Kong is a special and local administrative region of China. As Hong Kong is unable to resolve on its own challenges jeopardizing national security and the majority of its residents' wellbeing, it is only just and legitimate and in line with the Constitution for the central authorities to legislate on national security for the HKSAR at the state level, the spokesperson stressed.
The spokesperson said that those who point fingers at China's affairs under the pretext of human rights and the rule of law have only exposed their arrogance and prejudice in interfering with other countries' internal affairs.
While proclaiming themselves as champions of human rights, the politicians have falsely pit the protection of human rights against the protection of national security, said the spokesperson.
Those politicians frequently cite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but ignore that the ICCPR mentions at least seven times that human rights, including freedoms of expression, assembly and association, can be subject to restrictions for the protection of national security, said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson emphasized that the national security legislation for the HKSAR targets a small handful of criminal acts and activities endangering national security, while the safety and legitimate rights and freedoms of the majority of Hong Kong residents will be protected, so that they can enjoy the freedom from fear caused by violence, freedom to use Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway and visit shopping malls without worries, and freedom to speak the truth in public without being lynched by rioters.
While paying lip service to the rule of law, the politicians have shown no regard for the principle of non-interference, a principle of international law and a basic norm governing international relations, said the spokesperson.
"They (the politicians) frequently cite the Sino-British Joint Declaration, but ignore the fact that the document is essentially about China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and arrangements for the transitional period," said the spokesperson.
"No single word or clause in the document grants any country or international organization the right to meddle with Hong Kong affairs. The basic policies concerning Hong Kong in the document were unilaterally stated by China, have been embodied in the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and will continue to be upheld," said the spokesperson.
Emphasizing that at the core of "one country, two systems" is the mission to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the spokesperson said "one country" is the prerequisite for and foundation of "two systems," while "two systems" derive from and are subordinate to "one country." Should the "one country" principle be undermined, "two systems" would be out of the question.
"No one shall ever underestimate the strong will and firm resolve of China to establish and improve a legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security," the spokesperson said. Enditem
