The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR strongly disapproved and firmly rejected the 2021 annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy released by the European Parliament, which vilified Hong Kong’s democracy and the rule of law, slandered the Chinese government’s policies towards Hong Kong, and clamored for sanctions and intervention activities. We urged relevant politicians to immediately stop self-deceiving political stunts and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs.

The spokesperson said that the National Security Law for the HKSAR targets only a small group of criminals engaged in activities endangering national security, and Hong Kong residents enjoy a wide range of democratic rights and freedoms under the law. With the effective implementation of the National Security Law and the new electoral system, the rule of law and peaceful life in Hong Kong have been restored, and the business environment has been more favorable. Thanks to the measures, Hong Kong has been able to focus on fighting the pandemic, revitalizing the economy and improving people’s livelihood, ushering in a whole new phrase featuring sound governance.

The spokesperson pointed out that the report of the European Parliament is inconsistent with facts and full of ideological bias on Hong Kong-related parts. Wearing tinted-glasses, some European Parliament politicians have ignored the positive changes in Hong Kong’s political ecology and the mainstream public opinion of Hong Kong society seeking stability and development. They smeared and meddled with Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs willfully under the guise of democracy, human rights and international law. What’s more, the content calling for unilateral sanctions and encouraging member states to suspend normal judicial cooperation with China precisely reflects their hegemonic way of thinking. Their ill intentions will prove to be futile.

The spokesperson reiterated that Hong Kong is part of China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. The Chinese government remains firm in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement the principle of “one country, two systems”, and to oppose external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs. We strongly urge the European Parliament to put itself in the right position, abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop slandering and distorting “one country, two systems” and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs.