The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday described as "misguided" the European Union's (EU) conclusions and measures in response to the enactment of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR (the National Security Law).

In a statement posted online on Wednesday evening, an HKSAR government spokesman urged EU member states to take a “pragmatic and rational approach” and avoid measures that adversely affect relations. 

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"The HKSAR government calls on EU member states to adopt a pragmatic and rational attitude, and refrain from adopting measures that will adversely affect the long-standing mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the EU," the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

Referring to the specific measures announced by the EU, the spokesman said the EU's intention to provide Hong Kong people with more relaxed asylum, migration and residency policy on the pretext of the enactment of the National Security Law "is a blatant interference in the affairs of the HKSAR.”

“Such moves are deeply regretted,” he said, adding that matters relating to the HKSAR remain China's internal affair. "No other state has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, in such internal affairs.”

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The spokesman said the HKSAR currently has signed agreements on surrender of fugitive offenders (SFO) with seven EU member states---the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal. 

He said the HKSAR established a comprehensive co-operation regime for SFO and  upheld the principle of mutual assistance and reciprocity to carry out law enforcement co-operation with other countries.

“We object to any attempt of politicizing juridical co-operation, which damages the good basis of cooperation established between the two sides over the years and deviates from the purpose of juridical cooperation in safeguarding justice and the rule of law,” the spokesman said.

He added that the export restrictions on sensitive equipment and technologies proposed to be imposed by the EU on Hong Kong "are based on groundless allegations." 

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"All law enforcement actions by the HKSAR government are made in accordance with the law. We urge the EU to stop such political manipulation which is not in the interests of Hong Kong residents and our EU partners. We will continue to identify suitable suppliers for procurement as needed,” he added.

In 2019, there were more than 2,300 companies in Hong Kong with parent companies in the EU, an increase of 7.5 per cent from 2017. According to EU statistics, the total merchandise trade between the EU and Hong Kong amounted to 48 billion euro, with the EU enjoying a trade surplus of 25.4 billion euro.

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In addition, over 29,000 EU nationals live in Hong Kong and a number of European Chambers of Commerce have been operating here for many years. Two international schools offer European curricula in Hong Kong.