Lianhe Zaobao:
As China enacted the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, the United States recently announced a string of sanctions, including restrictions on visas for Chinese officials and abolishing special treatment for Hong Kong. How will China respond? What specific countermeasures will be taken? There are also concerns that a financial war may break out between the two countries due to the escalating sanctions imposed by the U.S. and China's countermeasures, which may undermine Hong Kong's status as a financial center. What is China's response to that? Thank you.
Zhang Xiaoming:
I have already stated China's attitude towards the so-called sanctions when answering questions from TASS news agency just now. Some people in the United States do like to stretch their hands too far. If they continue such bullying actions, if they don't think they have enough chaos at home, if they don't care that the so-called sanctions may do more damage to themselves than to others, if they want to shift the crisis onto others and shirk their responsibilities, then they should certainly go ahead and try. They will just give us a chance to demonstrate our determination and ability to fight back in self-defense. In fact, everyone may have noticed that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Commerce announced several so-called sanctions in the past two days, and China has also decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals who have acted maliciously on Hong Kong-related issues. As an old saying goes in China, we will "answer blows with blows." As long as the United States takes actions, the Chinese government and the HKSAR government are bound to react with countermeasures. Relevant measures will be taken according to circumstances.
The HKSAR's special economic status, including its status as an international financial center, has been formed over a long period, and forged through the hard work of several generations of Hong Kong people. Its status has been widely recognized by international society and guaranteed by the Basic Law, and certainly cannot be plundered by any country or group. We are not worried about maintaining its international status, because its position as an international financial center, and its prosperity and stability, basically depend on two factors: whether Hong Kong's own advantages in regard to its business environment and financial system will be weakened, and whether the momentum of China's economic development and the central government's support for Hong Kong will continue. We have confidence in these two factors, and so we have full confidence in Hong Kong's future.
Guo Weimin:
Today's press conference concludes here. Thank you all！
In case of any dispute over a discrepancy, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
