Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong lashed out at the sanctions and tariffs imposed by the United States targeting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region while delivering a video speech on the 10th National Security Education Day, calling Washington the “biggest sinister manipulator” attempting to undermine the prosperity of the city and contain China’s rise.

Xia, who is also director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, denounced the recent US imposition of 145 percent tariffs on Hong Kong — a longtime zero-tariff free port and the US’ largest source of trade surplus — as “extremely arrogant and shameless”.

He characterized the measures as acts of desperation targeting not just Hong Kong’s economy but its very survival, also warning that US suppression would only backfire, hastening the demise of its proxies in Hong Kong.

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Moreover, Xia stressed that external forces’ idea of returning China to poverty is “nothing but a pipe dream”.

Citing China’s rise as the world’s second-largest economy and top industrial power, Xia vowed unwavering resistance to trade pressures: “Whether it is a tariff war, trade wars, or any other kind of war, we have nothing to fear — the sky will not fall.”

Drawing on historical parallels, Xia said that to deal with aggressors, it is necessary speak in a language they understand.

“This meant fighting war with war, fighting violence with violence, and winning peace and respect through victory.”

Echoing Xia, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu cautioned in his remarks that Hong Kong must remain highly vigilant in safeguarding against national security risks, warning that the aftershocks of the 2019 social unrest have not fully subsided.

He stressed that anti-China agitators continue to attempt to revive their activities through “soft resistance”, spreading hatred and discontent.

Lee described the 2019 protests as a traumatic experience that remains fresh in the city's collective memory. While the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong five years ago has restored stability and normalcy, he emphasized that Hong Kong must not “forget the pain once the wound has healed”.

He also underscored that even while focusing on economic recovery and development, the city must not overlook the lasting impact of the separatist activities or forget how external forces brazenly interfered in Hong Kong's affairs through every possible means, and must remain alert for both local and overseas forces that seek to destabilize the city.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, emphasized that the greatest risk facing Hong Kong is forgetting the hard lessons learned from the 2019 violent turbulence.

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“Safeguarding national security is an ongoing mission with no finish line,” Zheng said. “This responsibility belongs to everyone — there can be no bystanders when it comes to protecting our nation's security.”

Dong Jingwei, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, said that while hegemonic powers are exerting pressure on Hong Kong, the city is accelerating its transition from order to prosperity and actively integrating into the nation's overall development.  

Dong also called for a dual focus on safeguarding national security as the top priority while advancing economic development as the central task.

Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, criticized the US for bringing grave instability and uncertainty globally by prioritizing its own interests over the collective good of the international community and fostering division and confrontation through zero-sum mentality.

Cui also expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s capability to adapt to the evolving landscape, seize the emerging opportunities, and fully leverage its unique strengths under the “one country, two systems” principle to bridge the Chinese mainland and the global community.

He also emphasized that Hong Kong, as a free port, should uphold its unique status and contribute to maintaining the multilateral trading system and building a community with a shared future.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com