Published: 11:08, October 10, 2026 | Updated: 12:45, October 10, 2026
HKSAR govt, LegCo reject ‘biased, erroneous’ EU report on China ties
By Shamim Ashraf in Hong Kong
In this Sept 27, 2026, file photo, boats ply Victoria Harbour with the Hong Kong Island skyline in the background. (SHAMIM ASHRAF/CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the city’s Legislative Council have strongly condemned the European Parliament’s so-called report on European Union-China political relations that made biased and untrue slanders against the SAR.

In separate statements issued on Friday night, the SAR government and the LegCo Secretariat said they firmly opposed the report, and urged the European Parliament to stop inciting confrontation and take concrete actions to safeguard the overall interests of China-EU relations.

The response followed a statement from the Chinese Mission to the EU, which said the report "is filled with ideological bias and erroneous narratives concerning China", making unwarranted accusations regarding issues concerning Taiwan, the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, the Xinjiang and Xizang autonomous regions, and human rights, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs and politicizing and over-securitizing economic and trade issues.

Pointing out that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, the HKSAR government said it’ll resolutely implement the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and other relevant laws to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong people with the overarching goal to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems.”

The implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the city’s community to swiftly return to normal, and the business environment restored and improved continuously, a government spokesman.

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Besides maintaining its position as the world’s freest economy, the HKSAR has risen to the top spot in cross-boundary wealth management worldwide and is ranked second in world competitiveness. It has also ranked third among international financial centers and topped the world in terms of funds raised through initial public offerings last year.

“Hong Kong remains high in the overall ranking and continues to be ahead of Western countries which often unreasonably criticize the rule of law and human rights situation of Hong Kong in the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index,” the spokesman said, adding that the achievements are built on the freedom and stability brought to Hong Kong society by the city’s National Security Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, other relevant laws of the HKSAR, and the work of protecting national security.

Urging the European Parliament to immediately stop smearing Hong Kong and issuing so-called recommendations that distort facts and spread alarmist narratives, the spokesman said it should cease interfering in the city’s affairs that are purely China’s internal affairs.

The LegCo Secretariat meanwhile said enacting laws to safeguard national security and continuously refining relevant enforcement mechanisms is a universally recognized international practice and an inherent duty.

Hong Kong’s rule of law and judicial independence, as well as the basic freedoms enjoyed by its residents,  have received more comprehensive protection. While the city’s business environment has continually achieved commendable results, its rule of law ranks high, the LegCo said in its statement, adding that the facts serve as the most powerful rebuttal of the European Parliament’s “recommendation.”

The European Parliament should not adopt double standards to smear the legislation enacted by the HKSAR to safeguard national security, it said.

Referring to the case of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and the case involving 45 individuals convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion mentioned in the recommendation, a LegCo spokesperson stressed that Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law, where laws must be observed and offenders must be held accountable and the courts’ convictions are well-grounded, measured and free from any interference.

The European Parliament’s “recommendation” makes unreasonable demands for the release of several convicted individuals, placing politics above court judgments and repeatedly exerting political pressure on the SAR’s judicial independence, the spokesperson said, calling it a trampling on the rule of law.

Rather than expending excessive time concocting recommendations full of biases regarding China and the HKSAR, the European Parliament should devote more effort to learn about China's actual circumstances, obtain a better understanding of the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong society following the implementation of the National Security Law, and recognize the benefits brought by China-EU economic and trade cooperation to the people of both sides, the spokesperson added.