HONG KONG - Eric Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, reiterated on Monday that the HKSAR government strongly disapproved of and rejected the annual report of the European Commission, urging it to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong matters.

Chan made the remarks during a meeting with Harvey Rouse, head of the Office of the European Union (EU) to Hong Kong. The meeting was requested by the HKSAR government, according to an official statement.

Chan stressed that it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right and an international practice to enact laws safeguarding national security.

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The EU exposed its double standards as it pointed fingers at Hong Kong's legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security, while totally disregarding the constitutional duty and practical needs of the city to legislate, and positive effects brought by the national security legislation, Chan said.

He stressed that establishing the mechanism for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR will not undermine the independent judicial power, urging the EU to respect facts, abide by the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and stop its long-arm jurisdiction immediately.