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Friday, June 11, 2021, 10:54
HKSAR govt, commissioner's office slam UK report on HK
By Wang Zhan
Friday, June 11, 2021, 10:54 By Wang Zhan

This photo dated Feb 16, 2012 shows the Central Government Offices in Admiralty, Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has objected to inaccurate remarks on Hong Kong contained in the United Kingdom Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong released on June 10.

In a press release issued early Friday, the HKSAR made it clear that the "HKSAR shall protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents under the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the PRC (the Basic Law) and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong in accordance with the law."

At the same time, it pointed out that "certain rights and freedoms recognised in the ICCPR are not absolute: the ICCPR stipulates that certain rights and freedoms may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law if it is necessary in the interests of national security, public safety, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, etc.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR pointed out that Britain had shown total disregard for the positive momentum in the Hong Kong situation, and chosen instead to openly meddle with Hong Kong affairs on the pretext of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

ALSO READ: HKSAR govt strongly deplores provocative actions by UK govt

The four categories of offences endangering national security clearly stipulated under the Hong Kong National Security Law are narrowly defined. There is no question of law-abiding persons inadvertently violating the law."

On prosecutorial decisions, the governement said such decisions made by the Department of Justice are based on evidence, applicable laws and the Prosecution Code, reminding in the press release "that the courts of the HKSAR can exercise independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication free from any interference, has been enshrined under the Basic Law as set out in Articles 2, 19 and 85."

The government iterated that the postponement of the 2020 LegCo General Election was entirely based on public health grounds and relevant decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Nov 11 complied with the Basic Law. 

In the press release, the government stressed that "the improvement to the electoral system of the HKSAR is both timely and necessary, as anti-China forces had created chaos in the Legislative Council (LegCo), paralysed the operation of the HKSAR Government, and even colluded with external forces to undermine Hong Kong's security and interests."

ALSO READ: HKSAR govt opposes EU's meddling in HK's electoral affairs

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) echoed similar sentiments when it urged Britain Thursday to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in response to the so-called "six-monthly report on Hong Kong".

A spokesperson pointed out that Britain had shown total disregard for the positive momentum in the Hong Kong situation, and chosen instead to openly meddle with Hong Kong affairs on the pretext of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The spokesperson pointed out how the British government chose to ignore the dark past of its colonial rule in Hong Kong, when Hong Kong people were never guaranteed genuine rights and freedoms.


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