Photo taken on June 29, 2021 shows China's national flags and flags of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on a street in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government and the commissioner’s office of the Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR have strongly condemned biased and groundless remarks made by some Western politicians about the development of democracy in Hong Kong and the disqualification of some district councilors according to law.

“Statements issued by individual foreign politicians from the US, the UK, the EU, Australia etc are flagrant and unsubstantiated attacks on the HKSAR and provocative interventions of the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China,” a spokesman for the HKSAR government said in a statement issued on Friday evening.

Statements issued by individual foreign politicians from the US, the UK, the EU, Australia etc are flagrant and unsubstantiated attacks on the HKSAR and provocative interventions of the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China.

Spokesman, HKSAR government

The spokesman stressed that the oath-taking of District Council members was conducted in full compliance with the Basic Law. 

“The HKSAR government strongly deplores and condemns the smearing and unfair comments by foreign governments of this legitimate oath-taking process and the subsequent rightful decisions to disqualify those whose oaths are invalid for failing to meet the legal requirement to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to HKSAR,” the spokesman said.

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On the National Security Law, the spokesman said the implementation of the law have been turning points for Hong Kong.

"Chaos has been stopped and stability restored in Hong Kong,” the spokesman said. “The implementation of 'one country, two systems' is back on the right track.”

 The spokesman stressed the law had been implemented in full accordance with national and local laws.

"Any claims of politically motivated prosecutions are factually incorrect, nonsensical and misguided,” according to the statement. “All prosecutorial decisions are based on admissible evidence and applicable laws. Cases have never been or will never be handled any differently owing to the political beliefs or background of the persons involved.”

The spokesman urged foreign politicians to stop interfering in Hong Kong matters which are the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China.

In a separate statement issued on Friday, a spokesperson for the commissioner’s office said Western politicians had vilified the National Security Law, emboldened anti-China and destabilizing forces in Hong Kong and interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.

The spokesperson said the National Security Law and the improved electoral system have plugged loopholes in Hong Kong for safeguarding national security, and at the same time removed obstacles to Hong Kong's development.

The HKSAR government's actions against disruptive elements and organizations are legitimate and pursuant to law, meet people's expectations and shall not be interfered with, the spokesperson noted.

Regarding the disqualification of some district councilors, the spokesperson stated that it is an international common practice to require an oath of allegiance, set out the qualifications of public office holders and ensure their national identity and political loyalty.

"No country will ever allow the holders to breach their oath or betray their countries," the spokesperson said.

The irresponsible remarks by some Western politicians have exposed their hypocrisy and double-standards and laid bare their intention to disrupt Hong Kong, a spokesperson for the commissioner's office said

The disqualification of certain district councilors is in strict accordance with legal provisions and procedures, and is a necessary action to protect Hong Kong's constitutional order and implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," the spokesperson said.

The irresponsible remarks by some Western politicians have exposed their hypocrisy and double-standards and laid bare their intention to disrupt Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson pointed out that the United States and other above-mentioned Western countries have a blotted record in democracy and human rights themselves: systemic racism, starting wars around the world, and creating chaos, division and humanitarian disasters.

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"How could they behave like having the moral high ground and lecture others?" the spokesperson asked.

Facts have proved that what some politicians in the West care about is not how to achieve sound governance and long-term stability of Hong Kong, but how to exploit a very small number of anti-China forces to hijack the society and fuel tensions, the spokesperson said.

What they are concerned about is not Hong Kong's social security, stability, development and prosperity, but whether Hong Kong can continue to be used as a pawn to curb China's growth, the spokesperson added.

Their trick of "fishing for fame" with a deceiving democracy playbook has been seen through, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stressed that non-interference is the principle of international law and the basic norm of international relations, and the pretext of democracy cannot cover their plot to create chaos in Hong Kong.

"One could never see a clear blue sky in Hong Kong with tinted glasses," the spokesperson said, adding, "We once again urge relevant Western politicians to stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs, stop distorting 'one country, two systems,' stop slandering the national security law and Hong Kong's improved electoral system, and stop continuing down the wrong path."

"Any attempt to prevent Hong Kong from transforming to stability and prosperity is bound to end in a fiasco," the spokesperson said.  

With Xinhua inputs