This file photo taken on April 1, 2022 shows the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Friday night said it strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected the wanton slanders and smears concerning the implementation of “one country, two systems” and the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong by certain US and UK politicians.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the SAR government said such slanders and smears were recently made through a statement by certain members of the US Senate on the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the third anniversary of the implementation of the NSL, and by the House of Commons of the UK Parliament through a debate on the aforesaid third anniversary.

The spokesperson said it strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects the unfounded remarks and slanders by the US and UK politicians regarding the SAR, where “one country, two systems” is successfully implemented.

"The US and UK politicians wantonly put politics above the rule of law. Their attempts by despicable political manoeuvres to interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance, and undermine the city's rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability, will only expose their own weaknesses and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail," the spokesperson said, adding that they ignored the acts and activities that severely damaged Hong Kong’s society, economy and business environment in the "black-clad violence" and Hong Kong version of "color revolution" in 2019.

The US and UK politicians wantonly put politics above the rule of law. Their attempts by despicable political manoeuvres to interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance, and undermine the city's rule of law as well as its prosperity and stability, will only expose their own weaknesses and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail.

Spokesperson for the HKSAR government

"Neither did they say a word about the fact that the NSL's successful implementation has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community at large to resume as normal and the business environment to be restored," the spokesperson said.

Instead, they wantonly attacked the Hong Kong SAR in its dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the NSL by spreading unfounded and fact-twisting remarks, the spokesperson said, adding that the politicians' hypocrisy with double-standards had long been exposed and their ill intentions would prove to be futile.

The SAR government strongly urged the politicians to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs.

The spokesperson stressed that the Hong Kong SAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China as a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” and comes directly under the central people's government.

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"The judicial system of Hong Kong has always been highly regarded by international communities. Any attempt by any country, organization, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the Hong Kong SAR by means of political power, in order to procure a defendant’s evasion of the criminal justice process, is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong," the spokesperson said.

Making remarks with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice, or engaging in conduct with the same intent, was very likely to constitute the offense of criminal contempt of court or the offense of perverting the course of justice, the spokesperson added.

A billboard promoting National Security Education Day is seen outside a pier in Central, Hong Kong, on April 3, 2023 as the city prepares to mark the day on April 15. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The spokesperson also stressed that it was well recognized by international communities that Hong Kong was a society underpinned by the rule of law and had always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable.

The spokesperson also stressed that it was well recognized by international communities that Hong Kong was a society underpinned by the rule of law and had always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable

"When discharging duties under the NSL, the Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies take law enforcement actions, based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, against any people, institutions or organisations that endanger national security. Such actions have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation," the spokesperson said.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) of the Hong Kong SAR, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, controled criminal prosecutions, free from any interference, the spokesperson said, adding that independent prosecutorial decisions for each case were made in a rigorous and objective manner, strictly based on evidence and applicable laws and are in accordance with the Prosecution Code.

As guaranteed under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, defendants charged with criminal offenses shall have the right to a fair trial by an independent judiciary, the spokesperson added.

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The spokesperson reiterated that the Hong Kong SAR steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to this top priority of the principle of "one country, two systems".

"The Hong Kong SAR government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL and further strengthen the Hong Kong SAR's legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security to prevent, suppress and punish in accordance with the law acts and activities that endanger national security," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the Hong Kong SAR government would also safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems".