Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam signs a petition in support of the national security legislation as she visits a street stand in Hong Kong, south China, May 28, 2020. (Xinhua)
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to "irresponsible comments and unwarranted accusations" by some countries over China's National People's Congress (NPC) decision on national security legislation for Hong Kong.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks in response to a joint statement issued Thursday by foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, which claimed the NPC decision has breached the international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and undermined the "one country, two systems" framework.
"It is totally China's internal affair for the NPC to adopt the decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and no foreign country has the right to interfere," Zhao told a press briefing.
Nevertheless, certain countries have made "irresponsible comments and unwarranted accusations" against the NPC decision, meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, Zhao said, adding the Chinese side has lodged stern representations with the countries.
Zhao said for any country in the world, following either a unitary or federal system, legislation related to national security belongs to the legislative power of the state. Safeguarding national security falls within the purview of central authorities, just as it is practiced in all countries, he added.
"Not a single country in the world allows activities endangering national security including secessionist activities in its territory."
Photo taken on March 7, 2019 shows the scene of a plenary meeting of deputies from Hong Kong at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the central government has administered the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law rather than the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the spokesperson said, hence the countries have neither the legal basis nor the right to cite the Joint Declaration to point fingers at Hong Kong affairs.
Zhao said Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, nobody cares more about the city's prosperity, stability and its residents' fundamental well-being than the central government, and nobody is more determined than the central government to fully and sincerely implement the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law.
"We'd like to urge relevant countries to respect China's sovereignty, abide by international laws and basic norms governing international relations, be cautious with their words and deeds, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, and contribute more to Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and the development of bilateral ties, rather than the other way around," Zhao added. ■