Groups, residents express support for the legislation, demonstrating consensus on its necessity, urgency
Members of the Hong Kong Eastern District Community Association stage a protest in Admiralty on Feb 29, 2024 outside the British Consulate General Hong Kong, condemning some Western politicians’ “irresponsible and malicious” remarks about Hong Kong’s planned Article 23 legislation. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
A central government office and the Hong Kong community on Thursday strongly condemned the “irresponsible and malicious” remarks made by some Western politicians regarding the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.
The office and Hong Kong community expressed opposition and dissatisfaction toward British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller for their remarks that attempt to undermine the proposed legislation in the name of “rights and freedom” and “China’s international commitments”.
READ MORE: China urges Britain to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs
In response to the British comments, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR issued a statement emphasizing that the Article 23 legislation reflects the aspirations of the Hong Kong public, and any attempts by external forces to intervene in this process will be futile.
The office stressed that the United Kingdom has no sovereignty or supervisory power over Hong Kong, despite Cameron’s reference to the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland in 1997, the central government has exercised overall jurisdiction over the SAR in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, rather than the Joint Declaration.
The office also laid bare the double standards and inherent prejudice of some politicians and media against China and its special administrative region. These critics have judged the city’s legislative efforts with “tainted spectacles” while ignoring the fact that their own national security laws are both more draconian and wide-reaching.
The office condemned the hypocrisy and accused foreign critics of deliberately pitting national security against rights and freedoms, making slanders under the pretext of making suggestions.
China will accurately implement the “one country, two systems” principle, and the central government firmly supports the SAR’s work to complete the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, and no external interference can undermine the SAR government’s determination to advance the legislation, the statement said.
In a separate statement addressing the US interference — as Miller claimed the new law “further undermines ‘one country, two systems’ framework” — the office said that the legislation will not only solidify the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, but also contribute to the stability and development of the Hong Kong community.
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Throughout the one-month public consultation period that ended Wednesday, various political groups, associations, and residents in Hong Kong expressed support for the legislation, demonstrating the strong consensus on the law’s necessity, importance, and urgency.
On Thursday afternoon, some residents incensed by Cameron’s remarks protested outside the British Consulate General Hong Kong, demanding an immediate end to British interference in the city’s internal affairs.
Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan, a Legislative Council member, criticized Cameron’s remarks as inaccurate and baseless, urging him to cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs and attacking the city.
Quat emphasized that the legislation follows common law practices and will not compromise the city’s judicial independence or residents’ rights and their freedoms of press, speech and assembly protected by the Basic Law.
