HKSAR gov't strongly opposes so-called 'Hong Kong Autonomy Act' becoming law in US

The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday expressed its strong opposition to the United States signing into law the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" and to the series of measures to be adopted by the United States under the president's executive order.

Photo taken on July 1, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square after a flag-raising ceremony held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Hong Kong, south China. [Photo/Xinhua]

The HKSAR government vowed to fully support the central government to adopt countermeasures.

As mentioned in the statement of the foreign ministry of China, the U.S. move seriously violates international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations and constitutes gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, a spokesman of the HKSAR government said.

The HKSAR government expressed deep regret over the U.S. move, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said it is hypocritical for the United States to introduce measures to attack China by creating issues in the HKSAR under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy out of its own political considerations.

It is egregious for the United States to undermine the relationship between the HKSAR and the central authorities under "one country, two systems" and to cover its abhorrent acts by the political slogan of "supporting Hong Kong people," the spokesman said.

The move will definitely harm the relations and common interests between China and the United States, and those between Hong Kong and the United States, causing tremendous damage to the companies and people of the United States, the spokesman said.

The United States has clearly demonstrated its double standards by claiming that the measures to be adopted under the act and the executive order are justified on ground of safeguarding its national security, while alleging that the national security legislation by the Chinese central authorities for the HKSAR is undermining the HKSAR's high degree of autonomy, the spokesman said.

It is the legitimate right and duty of every state to safeguard its national security and matters concerning national security of any local region fall squarely within the purview of the central authorities, the spokesman said.

There are at least 20 regulations that safeguard national security in the United States, and the law enforcement agencies are all authorities at the federal level, the spokesman said.

The United States should be clear about the fact that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of China and a local administrative region which enjoys a high degree of autonomy and comes directly under the central government, the spokesman said.

The National People's Congress has the constitutional power and duty to enact national law to safeguard national security in the HKSAR, namely the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR adopted on June 30, and to apply it to Hong Kong by promulgation in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law, the spokesman said.

Since the return to the motherland, Hong Kong has been implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the Basic Law, and the central government has firmly implemented the "one country, two systems" principle and acted in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, the spokesman said.

In view of the increasingly pronounced national security risks faced by the HKSAR, especially in light of the escalating violence and social chaos since June last year, the enactment of the national security law in Hong Kong is a timely, reasonable and rational decision, the spokesman said.

The law targets only an extremely small minority of people without adversely affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents, the spokesman said.

It is a necessary, timely and important step to improve "one country, two systems," the spokesman said.

During the legislative process, HKSAR's practical situation was taken into account and the views of the HKSAR government and of various sectors of the community were adopted, the spokesman said.

The law will not affect the high degree of autonomy, judicial independence and the rule of law in Hong Kong, the spokesman said, stressing that only when national security is safeguarded can Hong Kong enjoy long-term stability and security.

The special status as a separate customs territory enjoyed by the HKSAR under "one country, two systems" is conferred by the Constitution and the Basic Law and is recognized by multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization, but not granted or revocable by an individual country, the spokesman said.

On the other hand, the United States has enjoyed huge benefit from its economic and trade exchanges with Hong Kong, with a cumulative merchandise trade surplus of around 310 billion U.S. dollars during the 2010-2019 period, and the merchandise surplus in 2019 alone was over 26 billion U.S. dollars, the spokesman said, adding that at present there are 1,300 U.S. companies operating in Hong Kong and 85,000 U.S. citizens call Hong Kong their home, the spokesman said.

It would be a self-deception if the United States thinks that unilaterally introducing various measures that restrict normal business activities or people exchanges would not affect its own interests, the spokesman said.

The HKSAR government will carefully consider if the U.S. measures contravene WTO rules, and does not rule out the possibility of taking action under WTO rules to protect Hong Kong's interests, the spokesman said.

The spokesman reiterated that any measures imposed under the act and the executive order do not have any legal effect on Hong Kong financial institutions.