This July 1, 2020 photo shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong after a flag-raising ceremony held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has sternly denounced the so-called sanctions recently imposed by the US government against six officials of the Central People's Government and the HKSAR government, calling the latest US move “insane, shameless and despicable.”

In a statement issued by the HKSAR government on Saturday, a spokesman for the government described the measures taken by the US Department of State under the so-called "The President's Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization" as "coercive", adding that it is the latest attempt of the US government to intervene into internal affairs of the People's Republic of China and obstruct actions taken by the HKSAR authorities to safeguard national security.

"National security is a matter within the purview of the Central Authorities. Whether it is a unitary or federal state, legislation on national security is invariably carried out by the central authorities,” the spokesman said.

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"In adopting a Decision on the National Security Law on May 28, 2020, the National People's Congress made it clear that the country resolutely opposed interference in the HKSAR's affairs by any foreign or external forces in any form, and would take necessary countermeasures to prevent, stop and punish in accordance with the law activities of secession, subversion, infiltration and sabotage carried out by foreign or external forces in Hong Kong."

Speaking on behalf of her senior colleagues who have been targeted in successive acts of the US Department of State since last August for their involvement in the National Security Law, the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said that such a deplorable move is totally illegitimate and violates established principles of international law.

 Spokesman, HKSAR govt

The spokesman said since the implementation of the National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the US government has exploited every incident and excuse to make slandering remarks about the National Security Law and attack the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR authorities in their dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the National Security Law. 

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“We could not help but suspect that the National Security Law has touched a nerve of those foreign or external forces,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that the US has displayed double standards and hypocrisy with recent events in the US Capitol.

"The US Government's claim that the imposition of the so-called 'sanctions' or 'designation' of certain individuals for punitive actions was in response to the enactment and enforcement of the National Security Law. This is a lame excuse that could hardly stand up to challenge,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman severely condemned the US government for yet again resorting to the "tool" of threatening the People's Republic of China and HKSAR government officials through economic, financial or other means, and deliberately making public the personal information of those government officials.

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“Speaking on behalf of her senior colleagues who have been targeted in successive acts of the US Department of State since last August for their involvement in the National Security Law, the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said that such a deplorable move is totally illegitimate and violates established principles of international law,” the spokesman said.

“I and my colleagues are discharging an honorable duty to prevent, stop and punish in accordance with the law acts and activities endangering national security. We will not be intimidated," the spokesman quoted Lam as saying.

The HKSAR government will fully support the central government in adopting appropriate counter-measures, the spokesman added.