This June 23, 2016 photo shows the Central Government Offices at Tamar, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has firmly rejected what it termed “fact-twisting remarks and baseless smears” by foreign countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, against its efforts to safeguard press freedom.

In a statement issued on Friday night, the government said the attempts by foreign countries in the name of so-called "Media Freedom Coalition" to undermine the city’s rule of law and prosperity and stability “by slandering the city's situation will only expose the countries' own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail”.

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“Hong Kong people enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. Also, Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law stipulates that such freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents shall be protected in accordance with the law in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR,” a government spokesman said.

Their (media in Hong Kong) freedom of commenting on and criticizing government policies remains uninhibited as long as this is not in violation of the law.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

Stressing that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are not absolute, the spokesman said their exercise may be subject to restrictions that are provided by law and are necessary for pursuing legitimate aims such as protection of national security or public order. 

“Journalists, like everyone else, have an obligation to abide by all the laws.”

The media landscape in Hong Kong is as vibrant as ever, the spokesman said, adding that the media, as always, can exercise their freedom of the press in accordance with the law. 

Total 213 media organizations are currently registered with the HKSAR government’s News and Media Information System, said the spokesman. 

“Their freedom of commenting on and criticizing government policies remains uninhibited as long as this is not in violation of the law.”

Pointing out that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, the government said the city’s law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law “in respect of the acts of the persons or organizations concerned, which have nothing to do with freedom of the press, or the background of any person or organization”.

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“The HKSAR will continue to resolutely discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security and effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities that endanger national security in accordance with the law, and safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law at the same time,” added the spokesman.