The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has strongly rejected the unfounded and biased content related to the city contained in the US Department of State's so-called 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the SAR government said it strongly disapproves of and rejects the US' repeated tactics through the so-called report in making slandering remarks against Hong Kong, where “one country, two systems” is successfully implemented.

“The US is once again overriding the rule of law with politics and politicizing human rights issues. Such an attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance and undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is doomed to fail,” reads the statement.

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Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the human rights of Hong Kong residents have been firmly protected by the Constitution and the Basic Law, it pointed out.

The HKSAR government resolutely, fully and faithfully implements relevant laws including Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) to tackle acts and activities endangering national security, while maintaining the common law system and upholding the rights and freedoms of city’s residents, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, said a government spokesman.

“The HKSAR government strongly demands that the US immediately stop acting against international law and the basic norms of international relations and interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.”

Regarding the legislation safeguarding national security, the statement pointed out that the content regarding legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR contained in the so-called report by the US is completely absurd and untrue.

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Since the implementation of the HKNSL in June 2020, the US has all along ignored the large-scale and incessant riots that occurred in 2019 which devastated society, the livelihood, and economy of Hong Kong, it added.

“Instead, it built up false stories and fabricated narratives through various so-called reports to maliciously slander legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and blatantly attack the HKSAR in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully, and in accordance with the law.”

The US has also deliberately neglected the fact that such laws have enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community as well as the business environment, to return to normalcy, said the government, adding: “Its bullying conduct and hypocrisy laced with double standards are utterly despicable.”

Pointing out that the legal framework in safeguarding national security in the city is consistent with the relevant international human rights standards, the government said the HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security.

The government emphasized that offenses endangering national security stipulated by the HKNSL and the SNSO target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offenses with clarity.

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“The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant has the actus reus and mens rea of an offence before the defendant may be convicted by the court,” the government spokesperson said, adding that the relevant offenses do not have retrospective effect, which is in line with Article 12 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

“Reasonable and legitimate expression of opinion based on objective facts and legitimate day-to-day activities would not constitute an offense.”

The government also outlined issues regarding the city’s enforcement actions, bail arrangements, safeguarding the due administration of justice and the rule of law, and the conditions of correctional services facilities.

Regarding the false information regarding the deportation policy in the US’s so-called report, the SAR government said it maintains a firm policy of not granting asylum and not determining or recognizing the refugee status of any person.

“A Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) has been put in place to screen non-refoulement claims on all applicable grounds in one go,” the government said, adding that the screening mechanism procedures meet the high standards of fairness as required by law and compare most favorably with those adopted in other common law jurisdictions, with each non-refoulement claimant being provided with publicly-funded legal assistance.

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The SAR government reiterated that the city steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to this top priority of “one country, two systems”.

Hong Kong will continue to protect and promote human rights through security, development, and cooperation as well as tell good stories of its human rights situation in a reasoned and robust manner, added the government.