HONG KONG - The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Saturday urged the United States, Canada and a number of other countries to stop their political manipulation by updating travel warnings to the HKSAR.

The office expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition towards certain countries for slandering the national security law in Hong Kong and the HKSAR's Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and smearing the rule of law and human rights situation in the HKSAR.

A spokesperson for the office stressed that the national security law in Hong Kong and the HKSAR's Safeguarding National Security Ordinance are in line with the spirit of the rule of law and international prevailing practices, fully respect and safeguard human rights, fully protect the normal activities of foreign institutions and personnel in Hong Kong, and the crimes are clearly defined.

The HKSAR government on Saturday strongly condemned slanders and smears against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance made by the US and Canada in the pretext of updating travel advisory regarding Hong Kong

The law and the ordinance target only a very small number of people who endanger national security, and ordinary people and institutions need not worry about being caught in the net by mistake, the spokesperson said.

As a favorable place for enterprises to invest in and for talents to gather, Hong Kong received about 34 million tourists last year, with the MICE tourism industry recovering rapidly. Capital, enterprises and talents from other countries continue to flow into Hong Kong, demonstrating the confidence of the international community.

The spokesperson said that the travel warnings of relevant countries ignored objective facts, maliciously derogated Hong Kong's international reputation and attempted to obstruct normal business and personnel exchanges.

The office strongly urged relevant countries to immediately stop vilifying Hong Kong's national security legislation, immediately revoke the false travel warnings, adjust erroneous ratings, and remove the stumbling block that hinders exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR government on Saturday strongly condemned slanders and smears against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance made by the US and Canada in the pretext of updating travel advisory regarding Hong Kong.

A spokesperson for the HKSAR government said that the relevant provisions on offences against national security stipulated in the ordinance precisely target acts that harm national security. Actions to enforce the law are based on evidence and are in strict accordance with the law.

The HKSAR government firmly opposes any attempt to use intimidation to achieve their political agenda and disrupt legitimate people-to-people exchanges and activities in the business sector, according to the spokesperson.

The HKSAR government has always welcomed visitors with legitimate purposes including travel or business. They will not engage in acts or activities that threaten national security, and will not be penalized by mistake, the spokesperson said.

The HKSAR government urges relevant countries to stop resorting to political tricks like updating travel advisory regarding Hong Kong to stand in Hong Kong's way of safeguarding national security, the spokesperson said.