This undated photo shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar Park, Hong Kong. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Wednesday condemned the United Kingdom and the United States for making despicable smears against the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

In a statement, a government spokesman said the UK and US were misleading the public when they smeared the HKSAR under the pretexts of the so-called "foreign travel advice" and "national emergency" respectively.

"As a highly international city, Hong Kong has frequent exchanges and close liaison with other countries, regions and relevant international organizations. Such normal exchange activities are protected by the Basic Law and the laws of Hong Kong,” the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

The spokesman said the UK manipulated its foreign travel advice system into a political instrument, “creating the illusion that all tourists coming to Hong Kong will be regarded as culprits endangering national security, thereby affecting normal travel”

“What the NSL regulates is the use of Hong Kong by foreign countries or external elements to carry out acts and activities endangering national security, which is obviously different from normal exchange activities," he added.

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The spokesman said the UK manipulated its foreign travel advice system into a political instrument, creating the "illusion that all tourists coming to Hong Kong will be regarded as culprits endangering national security, thereby affecting normal travel.”

“Such action bears ulterior motives, and is extremely appalling and irresponsible," the spokesman said.

He said the US has blatantly and repeatedly breached international law and basic norms underpinning international relations, and wantonly interfered with the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong matters by extending again the so-called 'national emergency with respect to Hong Kong'.

“Such act is arbitrary and unreasonable,” the spokesman said, adding that the US has made skewed remarks about Hong Kong's situation and imposed the so-called "sanctions" on Hong Kong to interfere with the city’s law-based governance and undermine its rule of law, prosperity and stability.

“Their despicable plots are doomed to fail. The HKSAR government despises the so-called 'national emergency with respect to Hong Kong' and 'sanctions' and shall not be intimidated,” he said.

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The spokesman said the scope of application of the NSL fully aligns with the principles of international law and there are also numerous examples of extraterritorial application in the national security laws of other countries, including the UK and the US.

“These countries make fact-twisting remarks against the extraterritorial application of the NSL while deliberately ignoring that of their own laws. It not only once again shows their double standards to the whole world, but also exposes their intention to put politics above everything," he said.

The spokesman said endangering national security is a very serious offense and no country will watch "with folded arms" acts that endanger national security.

“The persons involved in the actions by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force have fled overseas and are alleged to have continued to commit offenses under the NSL that seriously endanger national security. The actions by the NSD are reasonable, rational and legal," the spokesman said. 

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He said the NSL has swiftly and effectively restored stability and security, as well as the enjoyment of rights and freedoms that Hong Kong residents had been unable to enjoy during the period of serious violence between June 2019 and early 2020.

“The HKSAR government solemnly urges the US and the UK to discern fact from fallacy, immediately stop smearing and making skewed remarks regarding the implementation of the NSL and other situations in the HKSAR, and immediately refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong matters," he said.