The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Friday lashed out at the ongoing disruptive attempts and smear campaign by anti-China troublemakers over the upcoming Legislative Council election, saying election security, pertinent to national security, must be fully safeguarded.

A spokesperson for the office said in a statement it will resolutely support the SAR government’s law-based crackdown on any illegal behavior or activities attempting to disrupt and sabotage the election.

It took note of the recent smear campaign calling to boycott the poll or cast blank votes, or even deliberately vandalize election-related promotion materials surrounding the Dec 7 Legislative Council General Election.

Such disruptive attempts by anti-China troublemakers have laid bare their ill-intention of sabotaging the implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy and bringing harm to the city. It will backfire and trigger an outcry among the Hong Kong public and sound the knell of their demise as well, the office said.

The office firmly supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in taking rigorous legal measures to crack down on actions that disrupt and undermine elections, resolutely opposes any interference from external forces in accordance with the law, and jointly upholds a fair, just, safe, and orderly electoral process, the spokesperson stressed.

The statement came as the city’s anti-graft watchdog arrested two men and one woman for reposting social media posts to incite people to cast invalid ballots or boycott the poll on suspicion of violating the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

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The Independent Commission Against Corruption called on the public not to be misled by the law breakers and said it will sternly follow up on such actions to ensure an honest, fair, open election.