Members of the Hong Kong disciplined forces who participated in the 2023 World Police and Fire Games in Canada are welcomed on their arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport on Aug 8, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Central government departments in charge of Hong Kong affairs strongly condemned the malicious provocations and attacks by overseas forces against the city’s disciplined forces members who won a record 275 medals at the World Police and Fire Games 2023.

On July 28, Hong Kong sent around 350 members of the Police Force, Customs and Excise Department, Correctional Services Department and Fire Services Department to compete as athletes in Winnipeg, Canada. They made history by winning 275 medals, including 97 gold, 90 silver and 88 bronze medals, in the competition, which ended on Sunday.

In an announcement released on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council congratulated the Hong Kong delegation’s outstanding performance and strongly condemned the despicable speeches and actions that were made against the delegation

However, during the event in Canada, overseas extremists and organizations took advantage of the opportunity to stir up trouble and disrupt these athletes. They shouted and held up signs smearing the Hong Kong athletes at the airport, on the streets and outside the competition venues. They even put photos and videos of the athletes online and incited others to try and prevent Hong Kong police officers from entering Canada.

In an announcement released on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council congratulated the Hong Kong delegation’s outstanding performance and strongly condemned the despicable speeches and actions that were made against the delegation.

ALSO READ: Returning in triumph

The smearing by these troublemakers clearly demonstrates that the disciplined forces are an obstacle to their illegal activities and exposes their fear of the Hong Kong Police Force upholding the rule of law and justice, the spokesperson said.

After learning lessons from the 2019 social unrest, and witnessing the city’s transition from chaos to order, the Hong Kong community and the international community can distinguish those who protect the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong from those who undermine it, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stressed that the central government has full confidence in and recognition of the disciplined forces of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Under the strong leadership of the HKSAR government, the disciplined forces, who are widely supported and respected by Hong Kong residents, will firmly protect the steady implementation of “one country, two systems”, the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and the well-being of the general public, the spokesperson added.

Also in a statement, a spokesperson for the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said that the Hong Kong Police Force, as a distinguished representative of the disciplined services, has made great contributions to safeguarding national security and social stability in Hong Kong by curbing violence and chaos, cracking down on crimes, and serving the people of Hong Kong in a fearless and wholehearted manner that is full of resolve.

ALSO READ: HKSAR govt opposes foreign legal bodies' attacks on NSL

Hong Kong ranks sixth in terms of order and security in the 2022 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, which is the greatest affirmation of the Police Force’s work, the spokesperson said.

However, some Western politicians and activists, colluding with some anti-China fugitives who broke laws in Hong Kong before they fled the city, made malicious provocations and groundless attacks on the Hong Kong delegation during the Games, in an attempt to dent the image of the Hong Kong Police Force and discredit the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

The central government strongly condemns such activities and firmly supports the SAR government to bring those anti-China fugitives to justice, so as to safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, the spokesperson concluded.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR said the foreign forces’ obstructive behavior is nothing but futile clamoring and venting, essentially an illusion that aims to plunge Hong Kong into chaos again and to recreate a crisis of the rule of law.

Their plots under the guise of “democracy” and “human rights” will never succeed, the Office said, adding that it firmly supports Hong Kong disciplinary forces to defend their honor and dignity, and continue to safeguard Hong Kong’s stability.

READ MORE: HK condemns UK politicians for demonizing police action

While welcoming the delegation back to Hong Kong on Tuesday at the airport, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said that with accelerating global changes, Western countries will continue to interfere, infiltrate, criticize, and discredit the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong, and the city will face more and more challenges in the future.

However, the HKSAR government will continue working with all sectors of the community to unwaveringly protect the security of the city and the country, Chan said.