HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday strongly condemned and opposed the US government for, under the pretext of the so-called "national emergency", once again overriding the rule of law with politics and politicizing human rights issues.

The HKSAR government harshly criticized the US side for wantonly slandering the HKSAR's resolute implementation of the Hong Kong national security law (NSL) to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.

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A spokesperson for the HKSAR government said that the United States has repeated its tactics and breached international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations, and it wantonly interfered in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, by extending again the so-called "national emergency with respect to Hong Kong", which is a despicable political manipulation.

The HKSAR government said it strongly condemned the US political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all

The United States has time and again made skewed remarks about Hong Kong's situation and imposed so-called "sanctions" on Hong Kong pursuant to its domestic law, attempting to interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermine the city's rule of law as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The HKSAR government strongly condemned its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.

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The spokesperson said that the offenses endangering national security stipulated by the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offenses with clarity.

The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had the actus reus and mens rea of an offense before the defendant may be convicted by the court, and law-abiding persons will not unwittingly violate the law, said the spokesperson, adding the HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions to fight resolutely against acts and activities endangering national security based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law.

"Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law," the spokesperson said, adding that the legal framework in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is in line with relevant international human rights standards.

The spokesperson urged the United States 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 noted that the NSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR are protected in accordance with the law.

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The spokesperson stressed that endangering national security is a very serious offense, and no country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security.

"The HKSAR government will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of 'one country, two systems,'" the spokesperson said.

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The spokesperson urged the United States 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.