The European Parliament has been urged to face the reality of Chi­na’s authority in affairs concerning its Hong Kong Special Administra­tive Region. 

The EP’s passage of a resolution criticizing Hong Kong’s human rights situation was seen as new interference in China’s internal affairs in the name of human rights. 

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged the European Parliament to stop acting as “human rights teachers” to other countries, and respect the sovereign­ty and rule of law of China

During a news conference in Bei­jing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged the legislative body to stop acting as “human rights teachers” to other countries, and respect the sovereignty and rule of law of China. 

Hua stressed that Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and have nothing to do with democratic or human rights issues. No foreign governmental organiza­tion or individual has the right to interfere. 

ALSO READ: China firmly opposes external interference in HKSAR affairs

In a news release, a spokesperson for the Mission of the People’s Repub­lic of China to the European Union said EP members have blatantly interfered in China’s affairs by pass­ing the unfounded resolution. 

It’s perfectly justified for related government departments to crack down on illegal activities in their own countries in accordance with the law, in a bid to safeguard national sovereignty and safety, said the spokesperson. The handling of judi­cial cases in Hong Kong purely belongs to China’s internal affairs, and no interference by foreign forces will be tolerated. 

The spokesperson urged the EP to face up to the fact that Hong Kong returned to the motherland in 1997 and to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs. 

In a statement on Friday, the Hong Kong SAR government said the “biased” resolution is “politically motivated and does not reflect the truth”. 

Stressing that law enforcement agencies are duty­bound to safeguard the city’s order and national security, the government said it is “appalled” by the parliament members’ call to release arrested suspects, which sug­gests that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions. 

In response to the so-­called sanctions, the government said Hong Kong officials’ determination to safeguard national securi­ty will not be affected in any way. 

The HKSAR government said Hong Kong officials’ determination to safeguard national securi­ty will not be affected in any way

“Nobody is above the law. Any­body who contravenes the law will have to face justice, regardless of who or where a person is, as long as the offense falls within Hong Kong’s jurisdiction,” a spokesman for the HKSAR government said. 

READ MORE: European politicians urged to stop meddling in HKSAR affairs

Connie Wong Wai­-ching, vice­-chairwoman of the Chinese Gen­eral Chamber of Commerce, said the proposed sanctions and other moves meant to obstruct China’s development have exposed the selfishness of Western countries. They have squandered interna­ tional organizations’ continuous efforts to promote bilateral inter­ests, Wong said. 

Lau Siu­-kai, vice-­president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, believes that EP members do not repre­ sent the majority of European countries, thus the sanctions they called for will not cause a major impact on China­-EU cooperation. 

The resolution called for the release of Hong Kong activists arrested under the National Security Law and other “politi­cally motivated charges”. It also imposed sanctions against nine Hong Kong and mainland offi­cials, including the SAR’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-­ngor. 

Samuel Yung Wing-­ki, vice­-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Confer­ence’s Committee for Economic Affairs, said that the EU Parliament’s resolution showed some Western politicians’ lack of understanding of Hong Kong’s realities, and the politicians’ biases against China. 

Song Sio­-chong, professor at the Research Center of Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law at Shenzhen University, said that it was wrong for the EU Parlia­ment to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. 

gangwen@chinadaily.com.cn