HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Thursday strongly disapproved of and rejected a Forbes magazine's commentary which cites a report by an anti-China organization, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

Titled "Hong Kong's Economy Is Now Risky Business", the article fabricated false and unfounded narratives against the implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and safeguarding of national security in Hong Kong, said the government.

Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China and has all along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC pursuant to the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fulfill its international obligations, a government spokesman said in a statement.

The HKSAR government has been closely monitoring the Security Council’s latest adopted resolutions and sanctions lists, as well as reports and announcements of the relevant committees or panels of experts under the UNSC for follow-up action, the spokesman added.

“Certain countries may impose unilateral sanctions against some places on the basis of their own considerations. The HKSAR government does not have the legal authority to, and it will not implement, unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries.”

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Stressing that the city has a robust system to implement sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the spokesman said, coupled with the vigilant investigation efforts of its law enforcement agencies which are effective and deterrent, a number of suspected Hong Kong-registered companies had been struck off, and suspicious vessels had been denied entry into Hong Kong waters.

“All these are conducive to preventing attempts to make use of Hong Kong as a base to violate UNSC sanctions, and hence safeguarding the international reputation of Hong Kong,” the spokesman said, adding that the SAR will continue to maintain a stringent system of implementing the UNSC sanctions in accordance with the law.

Exercising their statutory authorities, the law enforcement agencies will proactively follow up on all suspected violations of the UNSC sanctions and institute prosecution when there is sufficient evidence, it added.

Regarding safeguarding of national security, the government said it is Hong Kong's constitutional duty to do so and safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter.

Pointing out that many common law jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security, the spokesman said, “Turning a blind eye to the fact and making blatant remarks, the anti-China organization CFHK Foundation has demonstrated typical political hegemony and hypocrisy with double standards.”

In discharging their duty to safeguard national security, the city’s law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, the spokesman said.

The Department of Justice makes independent prosecutorial decisions, and prosecutions commence only when there is sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction and if it is in the public interest to do so, the spokesman stressed, adding that the Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law.

It is incontrovertible that safeguarding national security will provide a better business environment for businesses operating in Hong Kong, the spokesman said, adding that the city’s National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly state that the principle of the rule of law shall be adhered to.

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the government said Hong Kong, under “one country, two systems”, enjoys the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, making its role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder” unrivaled.

The city’s highly open and international market, the common law system, regulatory regimes that align with those of the major overseas markets, and the free flow of information and capital, have made it an ideal place for companies to expand their operations and talent to give full play to their strengths, it added.

Steadfast in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the SAR government protects the legal interests, rights, and freedoms enjoyed by the people in Hong Kong in accordance with the law, while resolutely safeguarding the overall interest of the community and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”, the statement added.