The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government over the weekend decried what it described as “smears with distorted facts” by foreign politicians against lawful police actions to pursue absconded individuals wanted for endangering national security.
In statements released on Saturday and Sunday, the HKSAR government said it strongly opposed smears made by government officials and politicians from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, and anti-China organizations, after the Hong Kong Police Force on Friday issued wanted notices and bounties of up to HK$1 million ($127,399) for 19 individuals accused of organizing the so-called “Hong Kong Parliament”.
A spokesperson for the HKSAR government said the overseas group aimed to subvert State power, promoted “self-determination”, and promulgated the so-called “Hong Kong Constitution” in violation of the HKSAR’s National Security Law.
Thus, the police applied to the court for arrest warrants in accordance with the law and put the persons involved on a wanted list, the spokesperson said.
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“Any acts disregarding the facts and smearing the HKSAR’s work in safeguarding national security with untruthful remarks are hypocritical and irresponsible, and will not win any public support,” the spokesperson added.
Extraterritorial effect for offenses under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance fully aligns with the principles of international law and common practice adopted in various countries and regions, the spokesperson explained. “Absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong. Ultimately, they will be liable for their acts constituting serious offenses endangering national security and be punished by the law. No country or organization should harbor criminals nor try to exonerate these people with different excuses.”
In a statement on Saturday, the HKSAR government said it strongly opposed remarks made by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper following the issue of the wanted notices.
Endangering national security is a very serious offense, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said, adding that no country will watch with folded arms while acts and activities that endanger national security are carried out.
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“With at least 14 pieces of law in the UK safeguarding national security, the UK has displayed hypocrisy and exposed its double standards by pointing fingers at the HKSAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security, while entirely disregarding the constitutional duty and practical needs of the HKSAR to legislate, and the positive effects brought by the enactment of the relevant national security legislation on economic development and protection of human rights,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR on Saturday expressed firm opposition to some foreign politicians for slandering the lawful law enforcement operations of the Hong Kong Police Force in issuing wanted notices for anti-China elements.
Individual politicians from the United States, Britain and other countries wantonly interfered in Hong Kong affairs, and openly stood up for anti-China troublemakers disrupting Hong Kong, fully exposing their hypocritical double standards and malicious intention of “using Hong Kong to contain China”, the spokesperson said. The office urged individual politicians and institutions of foreign countries to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Contact the writer at philiptubeza@chinadailyhk.com
