The Hong Kong government has strongly rejected unfounded and biased content related to the special administrative region contained in the US Department of State's so-called 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, a government spokesperson said the SAR government strongly disapproves and opposes repeated tactics by the United States through the so-called report to make slanderous remarks against Hong Kong, where 'one country, two systems' is successfully implemented.

“The US is once again overriding the rule of law with politics and politicizing human rights issues. Such attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and interfere in Hong Kong's law-based governance is doomed to fail,” said the spokesman.

READ MORE: HK’s national security regime impeccable by international standards

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the human rights of Hong Kong residents have been protected under the Constitution and the Basic Law. The government is firm in its commitment to implementing the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and other relevant laws aimed at safeguarding national security while upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, added the spokesman.

The US often abuses 'long-arm jurisdiction' and unilateral sanctions to target citizens of other countries.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt 

The spokesperson strongly demanded that the US immediately cease its actions against international law and the basic norms of international relations, refraining from interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's affairs.

On legislation safeguarding national security, the statement said contents regarding legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR contained in the US' so-called report are completely absurd and untrue.

Since the implementation of the NSL in June 2020, the US has ignored the large-scale and incessant riots that occurred in 2019 and devastated Hong Kong’s society, livelihood and economy. “Instead, it piled up false stories and fabricated narratives through various so-called reports to maliciously slander legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and blatantly attack the HKSAR in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully, and in accordance with the law.”

The US has also deliberately neglected the fact that such laws have enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community, and the business environment, to return to normalcy, the spokesman said, terming the US’ bullying act and hypocrisy with double standards as utterly ugly and despicable.

ALSO READ: HK at UNHRC: Law a better protection from genuine threats
The legal framework in safeguarding national security in the SAR and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security, the government pointed out.

The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, and the freedoms of association, of assembly, of procession, and of demonstration, enjoyed by the city’s residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the SAR are to be protected in accordance with the law, it added.

No country or region in the world will ever allow political power to fall into the hands of forces or individuals who do not love, or even sell out or betray, their own country.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt 

“The offenses endangering national security stipulated by the Hong Kong National Security Law target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offenses with clarity,” reads the statement.

The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant has the actus reus and mens rea of an offense before the defendant may be convicted by the court, as well as making it clear that the offenses under the NSL do not have retrospective effect, which is in line with Article 12 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, it added.

“As a matter of fact, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice,” it said. The US, which has at least 21 pieces of law safeguarding national security, is in no position to point its finger at other countries and regions for legitimately legislating to safeguard national security, it added.

The government statement also touched on issues regarding the sedition offense, enforcement actions, bail arrangements, legal practitioners, and the SAR’s electoral system.

READ MORE: HK’s legislation protects human rights at higher standard

It reiterated that Hong Kong steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to this top priority of "one country, two systems".

With the strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong will continue to protect and promote human rights through security, development, and cooperation and tell the international community good stories of the city's human rights situation in a reasoned and robust manner, added the statement.