In this Jan 1, 2024, photo, visitors take photos as the Chinese national and Hong Kong regional flags fly at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. (SHAMIM ASHRAF / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – China has urged the United States to respect China's sovereignty and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

In a press statement, the spokesperson of the US Department of State said that the US is closely monitoring the implications of Hong Kong's national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law for US citizens, investments, and companies operating in Hong Kong and is concerned by the definitions of "state secrets" and "external interference" and the extraterritorial reach of Article 23, alleging that Article 23 would undermine the "one country, two systems" framework.

In response, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the US statement.

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Completing the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law and plugging loopholes to safeguard national security is the constitutional responsibility of the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and what must be done for the lasting stability and security in HKSAR and the sound implementation of “one country, two systems” in the long run, she said.

Foreign citizens, investments, and companies operating in Hong Kong will also be protected in accordance with law.

Mao Ning, Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China 

The just concluded public consultation has shown that the Hong Kong society has reached a strong consensus to complete the legislation, she added.

The legislation on Article 23 targets a handful of criminals gravely endangering national security and protects in accordance with law the rights and freedoms that the residents of Hong Kong enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of relevant international covenants as applied to Hong Kong, according to the spokesperson.

"Foreign citizens, investments, and companies operating in Hong Kong will also be protected in accordance with law," Mao said.

The extraterritorial effect of Article 23 is in strict compliance with international law and the common practices of all countries and regions, she said.

“State secrets" and "external interference" are defined with full consideration given to HKSAR's realities and the common practices of all countries, the spokesperson said, adding: "The legislation is legitimate, lawful, and beyond reproach."

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The past three years since the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the SAR was formulated and came into force are a period when Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive again, and when the international community cast a vote of confidence in Hong Kong's prospects, she said.

After the Article 23 legislation is completed, Hong Kong's high-quality development and high-standard opening up will be better guaranteed and Hong Kong residents and international investors will benefit from it, said Mao.

"The United States has issued troves of laws safeguarding its own national security but thrown dirt on and labeled the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law. This is out-and-out political manipulation and hypocritical double standards.”

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which no country is in any position to point fingers at or interfere in, she stressed.

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"We urge the United States to respect China's sovereignty, observe the principles guiding international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs which are China's internal affairs," Mao said.