The spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR expressed strong disapproval and firm objection to the so-called updated “Hong Kong Business Advisory” jointly released by the United States Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Treasury, which vilified the laws relevant to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR and talked down Hong Kong’s business environment. The spokesperson stressed that:
First, the Central Government of China has always fully, accurately and unswervingly implemented the policy of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. The constitutional order of the SAR as defined under the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of HKSAR, is functioning soundly, with the Central Government’s overall jurisdiction and the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong both being exercised as it should. The central government fully supports Hong Kong’s efforts to maintain its distinctive status and edges, to improve its presence as an international financial, shipping, and trading center, to keep its business environment free, open, and regulated, and to maintain the common law, so as to expand and facilitate its exchanges with the world.
Second, the laws relevant to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR provide strong protection for Hong Kong's business environment. The formulation and implementation of Hong Kong's national security law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance are fully in line with the international law and the common practice of various countries, fully draw lessons from the judicial practices of other common law countries and fully respect and protect human rights. They ensure that Hong Kong is equipped with strong safeguards for national security, provide solid underpinning for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and further enhance Hong Kong’s first-rate business environment which is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. The number of non-local companies registered in Hong Kong has reached a record high and maintained steady growth in deposits in banking institutions, which has fully demonstrated that international investors’ raising confidence in Hong Kong.
Third, denigration of Hong Kong’ s business environment is a despicable trick used by the U.S. side in suppressing Hong Kong's development. The U.S. has more than once released the so-called “business advisory”, which not only failed to intimidate international investors, but also added to the stain on its own international reputation. This time, the U.S. side was up to its old tricks again, with ignoring the fact that Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive, fabricating the so-called “risks” of enterprises doing business in Hong Kong, and even blatantly drawing comparison between the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong in the report. It fully exposed that the U.S. side has never faced up to the reality that Hong Kong has long been returned to the Motherland.All these speaks the fact that the United States is an out-and-out disruptor, spoiler and saboteur of the practice of “one country, two systems” as well as the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. We urge the U.S. to abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, revoke all unjustified sanctions against Hong Kong, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s domestic affairs in any way.