BEIJING – China on Friday deplored US accusations against the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 passed by Hong Kong's legislature, urging the US to stop meddling in China's internal affairs.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks when asked to comment on a recent statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which he accused China of continuing to undermine the democratic institutions of Hong Kong and denying the rights of Hong Kong residents.
The United States does not care for Hong Kong's democracy and the rights of its residents. It's true purpose is to interfere in Hong Kong's politics and China's internal affairs.
Zhao Lijian, Spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry
China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the United States' blatant slander against the local legislation to improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Zhao said at a daily press briefing.
Noting that China is a country under the rule of law, Zhao said the completion of the legislation by the HKSAR is an important step to implement the relevant decision by the National People's Congress (NPC) and guidance by the NPC Standing Committee on amending the law.
The legislation will plug the previous loopholes in the HKSAR's electoral system, further build up the new order of "patriots administering Hong Kong", and promote the sound development of Hong Kong's democratic political system on a healthy and orderly track, he said, adding this will provide a more solid guarantee for Hong Kong's good governance and help safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
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In total disregard of basic facts, Zhao said the United States leveled groundless accusations against the China's central government and the government of the HKSAR.
"The United States does not care for Hong Kong's democracy and the rights of its residents. It's true purpose is to interfere in Hong Kong's politics and China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson.
Zhao urged the United States to respect basic norms governing international relations and immediately cease meddling in China's internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs.
A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign expressed a similar sentiment on Friday.
In a statement, the spokesperson said the office strongly opposed to interfering remarks made by a very few foreign politicians “maligning the passage of the electoral reform bill in Hong Kong.
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These politicians, said the spokesperson, have blatantly distorted the truth, smeared China's efforts to improve Hong Kong's electoral system, and openly meddled with judicial proceedings in the HKSAR in total disregard of international law and basic norms governing international relations.
The spokesperson urged the politicians in the relevant countries to stop endorsing anti-China troublemakers destabilizing Hong Kong, stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole, and abandon any futile attempt to gang up on China by forming so-called "value-based alliances" or blocs.
“No external interference will ever sway our determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, or ever weaken our commitment to fully and faithfully implementing ‘one country, two systems.’ Nor will it reverse the historical trend towards greater stability and prosperity in Hong Kong,” the spokesperson said.
With Xinhua inputs