HONG KONG/MACAO - The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the Macao SAR government on Wednesday lodged firm opposition to the so-called "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" recently released by the US State Department.

The reports disregard the truth and deliberately defame the human rights and rule of law in China and the HKSAR. Turning a blind eye to its own dismal human rights record, the United States fabricated falsehoods about the so-called "deteriorating" human rights situation in Hong Kong in the report, a spokesperson for the Commissioner's office said.

By promoting cases involving anti-China and anti-HKSAR elements, the United States exposes its attempts to politicize and weaponize human rights issues in a sinister plot to curb China's development through Hong Kong, which is utterly contemptible, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson emphasized that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, where laws must be adhered to and violations must be addressed, noting that the HKSAR handles cases fairly and firmly combats actions and activities that endanger national security, which is a necessary measure to uphold national security and the dignity of the law, and is beyond reproach.

In fact, since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and media have been fully protected by law, the spokesperson said, adding that today, Hong Kong is recognized among the world's freest economies, ranking third globally as an international financial center, and excels in indices such as global competitiveness, talent competitiveness, and investment environment, reflecting the international community's recognition and confidence in Hong Kong.

The central government firmly supports the HKSAR government in lawfully safeguarding national security and punishing crimes that jeopardize it, the spokesperson said, urging the United States to immediately stop discrediting Hong Kong and meddling in China's internal affairs.

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In a statement. the Macao SAR government emphasized that Macao has a sound legal system, an independent and comprehensive judicial system, and residents enjoy a wide range of rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, procession, and other rights, as stipulated by law. Labor rights are also fully guaranteed by law.

Under the principle of "patriots administering Macao", all sectors of society have united and forged ahead to jointly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. This is the constitutional obligation that Macao residents should fulfill and also the foundation for the steady development of Macao, the statement noted.

The United States was urged to view the achievements made by Macao under "one country, two systems" fairly and impartially, respect the facts, and refrain from maliciously slandering and criticizing the human rights situation in the Macao SAR. The groundless accusations from the U.S. side will not shake the confidence and determination of Macao's social unity and development, the statement wrote.

The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR said in a separate statement on Wednesday that the US report disregards facts, creates trouble out of nothing, smears and attacks the human rights situation in Macao, and openly interferes in Macao affairs and China's internal affairs.

Since Macao's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has made great achievements widely recognized, the democratic political system has been fine-tuned, the economy has achieved a historic leap, and the level of people's livelihood and well-being has continuously reached new levels, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Macao SAR will provide a guarantee for the steady practice of "one country, two systems" and long-term prosperity and stability of Macao.

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The commissioner's office demanded that the United States respect facts, stop slandering the human rights situation in Macao, and immediately stop interfering in Macao affairs and China's internal affairs.