HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government has accused the European Parliament of demonstrating political hegemony, hypocrisy and double standards over a resolution critical of the special administrative region’s national security legislation.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the SAR government strongly opposed the so-called resolution by the European Parliament and strongly condemned it for making baseless allegations about the city and smearing the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

READ MORE: European Parliament’s HK resolution is malicious and misinformed

“In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states,” a government spokesman said, adding that it is the constitutional duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security.

It is clear that safeguarding national security falls within the internal affairs of a sovereign jurisdiction, so the implementation of the NSL and the Ordinance should be free from any form of intervention.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

Common law jurisdictions, including Western countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security, the spokesman said.

“Turning a blind eye to the fact and making exaggerated remarks, the Parliament has demonstrated typical political hegemony and hypocrisy with double standards.”

The security law and the national security ordinance clearly specify that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, and by the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, are to be protected in accordance with the law, said the government.

The European Parliament had chosen to ignore this and instead lashed out wantonly and with malicious intent, it added.

The SAR government emphasized that extraterritorial effect for offenses endangering national security under the security law and ordinance fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions.

National security laws of various countries, including member states of the European Union, also have extraterritorial effect, it said, adding that Hong Kong’s security law and ordinance take into account the principles of international law and international practice.

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“In formulating the extraterritorial effect under the Ordinance, we have already taken into account the principles of international law and international practice of state jurisdiction, as well as the nature of the offenses,” reads the statement.

The HKSAR government strongly condemns its (European Parliament’s) political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

The European Parliament’s clamor for so-called sanctions against HKSAR personnel who dutifully safeguard national security amounted to political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, said the government.

“The HKSAR government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all."

Regarding legal proceedings involving Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the government said it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the ongoing case.

“We emphasized that all cases (including the relevant case) are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law. All defendants will receive fair trial strictly in accordance with laws applicable to Hong Kong (including the NSL) and as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights," reads the statement.

The HKSAR government urged the European Parliament to stop smearing Hong Kong and interfering in its affairs, which are the internal affairs of China, and to ensure that its remarks concerning Hong Kong’s security law and ordinance are fair and just.