Few people today pay attention to the United Kingdom foreign office’s six-monthly report (UK report) on Hong Kong. It is little more than a tired rehash of the same old rhetoric, smearing the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong (NSL) and painting Hong Kong as a “police state”, wherein rights and freedoms no longer exist — a claim as absurd as it is dishonest.

The very premise of these reports is laughable. Imagine if the UK dared to publish similar “assessments” of its former colonies like Singapore, India, or Kenya — it would immediately stir up a hornets’ nest and face harsh condemnation and diplomatic backlash. Yet, it presumes to have a right to lecture Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, which happens to be doing just fine, contrary to what the Western mainstream media would want you to believe, on governance and the rule of law.

The hypocrisy is staggering. The UK, of all nations, should understand the paramount importance of national security. It has at least 14 pieces of national security legislation, including the draconian National Security and Investment Act 2021 and the even stricter National Security Act 2023, which allows suspects to be detained for up to five years without trial. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s NSL was enacted precisely to restore order and safeguard freedoms after the insurrectionist rioters that ravaged the city in 2019-20.

READ MORE: UK’s misguided criticism of HK completely ignores realities

Far from suppressing rights, the law brought stability, allowing Hong Kong residents to live and work in peace once again. For the vast majority of residents, the NSL is not an instrument of oppression but a shield against wanton violence and destruction, perpetrated on whatever excuse, including insurrection.

The most powerful refutation of the UK’s allegations lies in Hong Kong’s vibrant reality. Last weekend, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens electrified the new Kai Tak Stadium, drawing 30 top teams from 16 countries and over 110,000 spectators, including thousands of overseas visitors. If Hong Kong were the dystopia the UK claims, why would the British rugby team and their fans bother to come?

Instead, they flocked here in droves, enjoying every moment, and left showering praise. For instance, the British rugby captain called the event “spectacular”, while Ricky Wilson of the UK’s Kaiser Chiefs, who performed at the tournament, hailed the stadium as “fantastic”. And Sylvester Chukwuemeka, a British tourist who dressed as a “bandleader” to cheer on England, told the South China Morning Post: “The Sevens has been amazing. The atmosphere is out of this world — the South Stand is pure fun. Everyone’s in crazy costumes, and it’s exactly what makes this event legendary.”

Other British visitors described the tournament as “absolutely fantastic”, while many expatriates waved Hong Kong flags in celebration, demonstrating their camaraderie with Hong Kong people. After the matches, they rode the efficient, spotless MTR to Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui, dining and reveling deep into the night without fear for their safety. Does this sound like a “police state”? None of the tourist spots were barricaded or swamped with policemen as though mass violence and disorderly conduct were expected.

March was a blockbuster month for Hong Kong: Art Basel showcased works from 42 countries and regions, attracting 91,000 attendees, including many international collectors.

ComplexCon drew 35,000 visitors, generating HK$87 million ($11.2 million) in sales. The Wealth for Good Summit brought together 360 global family office leaders, reaffirming Hong Kong’s role as the bridge between East and West. About 3.4 million visitors arrived in March, with 960,000 from outside the Chinese mainland, a 12 percent year-on-year increase, while hotel occupancy exceeded 90 percent.

And this is just the beginning. In July, three top UK soccer teams — Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur — will headline the Hong Kong Football Festival, another testament to the city’s enduring appeal and another slap on the face to the UK report.

The data doesn’t lie. If the UK’s report were honest, it would mention that Hong Kong’s crime rate is among the world’s lowest, making it 10 times safer than London. The 2024 Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) ranked Hong Kong 23rd out of 142 jurisdictions, above the US (26th), Italy (32nd), and Greece (47th).

Life expectancy in Hong Kong is 85 years, per World Health Organization (WHO), which exceeds the UK’s 81 years. Hong Kong tops the world in economic freedom (according to the Fraser Institute) and is third globally in finance (the Global Financial Centres Index). The Hang Seng Index surged 30 percent in the last six months (from a low of around 18,000 to a high of around 24,000), the world’s most substantial rebound in the period. Hong Kong has 5.9 hospital beds per 10,000 people, surpassing the UK’s 2.5. No wonder British National (Overseas) migrants complain of NHS delays. Why is all this vital data missing from the UK report?

Rather than recycling baseless accusations, the report should focus on the struggles of BN(O) migrants. Many of them have returned to Hong Kong, or are planning to do so, after facing unbearable hardships in the UK.

READ MORE: London’s self-deceptive trick over HK borders on absurdity

The truth is that Hong Kong has moved forward after the change of sovereignty — its rule of law is robust, its economy is thriving, and its freedoms are intact. The UK, meanwhile, grapples with its worst living standards in decades. Instead of clinging to colonial delusions, it should strengthen ties with China and the Hong Kong SAR, and end its role as the United States’ vassal.

As China’s Foreign Ministry rightly stated, after 27 years, it’s time for the UK to wake up from its imperial nostalgia.

To preempt the following UK diatribe, the HKSAR government should consider publishing its own six-monthly report before the release of the UK report, to show the world the real Hong Kong and render London’s next vilifying effort utterly irrelevant.

The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and Metropolitan University, and a council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.