The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Sunday decried what it described as “smears with distorted facts” by foreign politicians against lawful police actions to pursue absconding individuals wanted for endangering national security.

In a statement, the HKSAR government said it strongly opposed the smears by government officials and politicians from the United States, Canada and Australia, and anti-China organizations after Hong Kong police issued wanted notices and bounties of up to HK$1 million ($127,399) against 19 individuals on Friday for organizing the so-called “Hong Kong Parliament”.

A spokesman 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 National Security Law for Hong Kong.

“Thus, police applied to the court for arrest warrants in accordance with the law and put the persons involved on wanted list,” the spokesman said.

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“Any acts disregarding the facts and smearing HKSAR's work in safeguarding national security with untruthful remarks are hypocritical and irresponsible, and will not win any public support," he added.

The spokesman noted that the group wanted to overthrow or undermine “the basic system of the People's Republic of China established by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China or overthrowing the body of the central power of People's Republic of China or the body of power of the HKSAR with unlawful means."

He said the HKSAR government will not condone the criminal acts of an "extremely small minority of organizations and individuals" endangering national security, and will bring those fugitives who have absconded from Hong Kong to justice.

"Absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong,” the spokesman said, adding that those outside the city who commit NSL offenses against the SAR are still liable. 

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“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."

He said the Constitution and the Basic Law steadfastly safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents.

“Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong's situation will only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail,” he added.

The HKSAR government on Saturday also strongly disapproved of the biased remarks made by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after Hong Kong police issued the wanted notices and bounties.