BEIJING: The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expressed strong disapproval of and firm opposition to a U.S. report, saying the finger-pointing report makes a total mockery of human rights.
The U.S. Department of State Tuesday issued the “2020 country reports on human rights practices: China.”
The report distorted the truth, demonized the Chinese central government’s Hong Kong-related policy measures, including the National Security Law for the HKSAR, vilified the SAR government’s law-based governance and the police’s law enforcement efforts, and openly endorsed anti-China forces sowing trouble in Hong Kong, the spokesperson stressed in a statement.
“The report is a gross violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations and an outright interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs.”
The spokesperson said that since Hong Kong’s return, the Central Government has stayed firmly committed to “One Country, Two Systems” under which Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy, and acted in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law.
As a result, Hong Kong people enjoy unprecedented rights and freedoms under the law, the spokesperson said, adding that the National Security Law for the HKSAR has ushered in a historical transition for Hong Kong from chaos to stability and the improvement of the electoral system of the HKSAR has provided institutional guarantees for the enduring success of “One Country, Two Systems”, as well as Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability by optimizing and developing the democratic system of the HKSAR.
“Hong Kong today sees no more black violence and ‘burn with us’ activities. Instead, stability has become the prevailing trend, and the community is united in the efforts to combat COVID-19, rekindle the economy and improve livelihoods. Hong Kong and its people as a whole are sailing towards a better future.” Noting that the U.S. lags behind Hong Kong in global rankings both for freedoms and the rule of law, the spokesperson pointed out that the United States’ own human rights situation is bleak, with recurring racial discrimination and police violence and record-high gun trade and shooting incidents.
–The Daily Mail-CGTN News exchange item
