The spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR firmly rejected EU delegation’s gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at the UN Human Rights Council, including its attacks on the human rights situation in Hong Kong, smearing of the National Security Law for the HKSAR and Hong Kong’s new electoral system, and the hyping by the EU Office to Hong Kong and a few other consulates general in the city. Hong Kong people have the best say in Hong Kong’s human rights situation, and Hong Kong affairs brook no vilification from external forces.

The spokesperson said that the practice of “one country, two systems” has achieved globally recognized success over the past 25 years since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. The Chinese Central Government has been committed to fully and accurately implementing “one country, two systems” and protecting the freedoms of speech, press, publication and assembly enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with law. It is only after the adoption of the national security law and the improvement of the new electoral system that Hong Kong can restore stability and security, open a new chapter in sound governance, and Hong Kong and foreign people can live and work in the city with a strong sense of security, and their freedoms and rights could be better protected. The misleading comments of the EU delegation to the UN ignored the facts and confused right and wrong, which only laid bare its arrogance and wishful thinking of disrupting Hong Kong.

The spokesperson pointed out that the international community is clear-eyed and will not be fooled by the political manipulation of a few Western countries. At the 51st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of around 70 countries, opposed the politicization and double standards of the human rights issue, rejected interference in China’s internal affairs under the guise of human rights, and called on all countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect the right of people of all countries to choose their own development path based on their national conditions. Also, more than 20 countries made their own statements to support China’s position. The attempts of a small number of countries to smear China through the human rights issue have again gone bankrupt, and the fact has told us who gains the majority support in the international community.

The spokesperson stated that some Western countries, including many EU members, are facing multiple challenges, such as political polarization, the chasm between rich and poor, high inflation, energy crisis, migrant and refugee issues and racism. However, instead of solving their own problems and improving the livelihood of their own people, some countries are obsessed with making the Human Rights Council their stage to point a finger at or lecture others on human rights. Unfortunately, their play is poorly performed.

The spokesperson stressed that Hong Kong is part of China, and China is fully determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests. The moves of external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and contain China’s development have not succeeded in the past and will never succeed in the future. We urge some people to put themselves in the right position, recognize the historical trend, change course, earnestly abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs under any pretext.