HONG KONG - Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah on Sunday backed the anti-sanction law passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee in early June, adding that the law could be introduced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by adding it to the Basic Law.

Writing in her blog, Cheng said the “most natural and appropriate way” for the law to be introduced in the HKSAR would be to add it to Annex III of the Basic Law.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said the anti-sanctions law could be introduced in the HKSAR by adding it to Annex III of the Basic Law

“It states unequivocally that it has to be applied within the whole of China. As it is a national law, and as the imposition of countermeasures is entirely a matter of foreign affairs, the most natural and appropriate way for it to be introduced to the Hong Kong SAR would be to add it to Annex III to the Basic Law in accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Law,” Cheng said.

“This of course is a matter for the NPCSC to decide after consultation with the Basic Law Committee and the Hong Kong SAR government,” she added.

The NPCSC passed the law on June 10 after the US and some of its allies in recent years imposed a number of sanctions on Chinese individuals and organizations over alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Tibet autonomous region and the HKSAR.

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Cheng said China is entitled to impose countermeasures against unilateral coercive measures taken by other countries and the law provides the legal framework for the countermeasures to be implemented. 

“It is these foreign states that impose unilateral coercive measures that should be condemned and it is they that the international community should be concerned about,” Cheng said. 

“At this point, one cannot help but recall the treacherous and despicable acts by certain anti-China disruptors who relentlessly and shamefully seek foreign states to impose sanctions against China including Hong Kong,” Cheng said.

“No one who loves China and Hong Kong would embark upon such abominable and contemptible acts,” she added.

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Cheng said the law will supplement the legal tool box countering unilateral coercive measures, interference and long-arm jurisdiction of foreign states “with a view to resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, dignity and core interests of our motherland”.