BEIJING / HONG KONG - Central government bodies in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have condemned the so-called "primaries" recently organized by the opposition camp.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said Tuesday that it will never allow any illegal manipulation in the Legislative Council election in the HKSAR.

The spokesperson condemned the "primaries", saying that such acts have constituted illegal manipulation of the LegCo election and posed a blatant challenge to the HKSAR Basic Law and the national security law for the HKSAR.

The so-called "primaries" have severely disturbed the election order and may have violated the national security law for the HKSAR, said a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council

The spokesperson expressed resolute support for punishing such illegal acts in accordance with the law.  

Hong Kong is scheduled to hold a general election for the seventh-term LegCo in September.

The so-called "primaries" sought to hijack public opinion under the pretext of a "referendum," said the spokesperson, noting that they posed a grave threat to the constitutional order of the HKSAR and harmed the democratic electoral system in Hong Kong.

The so-called "primaries" and "referendum" are not stipulated in the Basic Law or any existing law on an election in Hong Kong, rendering such acts organized by any group or individual illegal, the spokesperson said.

Also, the so-called "primaries" have severely disturbed the election order and may have violated the national security law for the HKSAR, the spokesperson added.

The HKSAR government has received a large number of complaints regarding the so-called "primaries," said the spokesperson, stressing the need for serious investigation and severe punishment in accordance with the law.

ALSO READ: CE: 'Primary election' may have breached National Security Law

The so-called "primaries" are an extension of the turbulence that has lasted more than a year following the proposed ordinance amendments in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

Benny Tai Yiu-ting, the major plotter and organizer of the so-called "primaries," was also a key mastermind behind the 2014 illegal "Occupy Central" movement, an advocate of both "Hong Kong independence" and the terrorist suicidal tactic of "burn with us," and a political proxy of foreign and external forces in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

Tai and other like-minded people are among the culprits of the chaos which has jeopardized Hong Kong and the wellbeing of its residents, the spokesperson added.

They used "safeguarding Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy" as a disguise to create chaos, attempting to turn Hong Kong into a base for waging a "color revolution" against the country and conducting infiltration and subversive activities, the spokesperson said.

With the national security law for the HKSAR in place, Hong Kong is embracing a turnaround to end the chaos, restore order and bring itself back to the right track, said the spokesperson.

"We sincerely hope that people in Hong Kong can tell right from wrong and resolutely say 'no' to any acts challenging the bottom line of 'one country, two systems' or undermining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong," the spokesperson said.  Enditem

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR expressed similar sentiment on Monday, strongly condemning the opposition camp for holding illegal "primaries" and damaging fairness of the upcoming Legislative Council election.

The so-called "primaries" organized by some opposition figures, who were backed by external forces, seriously challenged the existing election system and jeopardized the fairness of the election, the spokesperson said

The office also said foreign interference in Hong Kong's political affairs will never be allowed.

A spokesperson of the office expressed firm support for the HKSAR government to investigate illegal acts in the so-called "primaries" and safeguard a fair LegCo election in a statement.

The LegCo election due in September has strict legal procedures and a fair election concerns the well-being of the Hong Kong society and residents, the spokesperson said.

The so-called "primaries" organized by some opposition figures, who were backed by external forces, seriously challenged the existing election system and jeopardized the fairness of the election, the spokesperson said, adding that personal information of many residents were collected, which is suspected of violating the law on privacy.

The spokesperson said Tai is suspected of violating the law.

ALSO READ: Opposition accused of exaggerating 'primary' turnout

Tai and his accomplices and the opposition camp attempted to seize the governance power of Hong Kong and wage a Hong Kong version of "color revolution," the spokesperson said.

Some even claimed that their goal is to control the LegCo, veto the budget of the HKSAR government, paralyze the government, destroy Hong Kong and subvert the state, which is suspected of breaching the national security law and Hong Kong's election law, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson expressed strong condemnation and noted Tai is still on bail pending appeal after being sentenced to 16 months of imprisonment for his involvement in the 2014 illegal "Occupy Central" movement.

READ MORE: Wong: LegCo election to be ‘life and death’ battle between rival camps

The spokesperson hoped the upcoming LegCo election will be held in a fair and orderly manner and stressed that the so-called "primaries" go against the will of Hong Kong residents to have a fair election.

Anyone who colluded with external forces to oppose the country, harm "one country, two systems," and separate Hong Kong from the motherland is doomed to fail, the spokesperson said.