China's national flags and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags are hung above a street in Hong Kong, 19, 2022, marking the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. (WU XIAOCHU / XINHUA)
HONG KONG/MACAO – The Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Sepcial Administrative Region has strongly disapproved and condemned a European External Action Service (EEAS) move hyping Hong Kong-related issues following recent remarks by the UN Human Rights Committee.
“The EEAS smeared the national security law for the HKSAR and Hong Kong’s new electoral system, vilified the central government’s policies towards Hong Kong, and attacked the human rights and rule of law situation in Hong Kong in its statement,” a commissioner’s office spokesperson said in a statement on Friday referring to the committee’s concluding remarks on a review of the HKSAR under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Over the past quarter-century, the central government has stayed committed to fully, accurately and unswervingly implementing the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong enjoying a high degree of autonomy”, firmly supporting the development of democracy with Hong Kong features, and fully protecting the freedom of speech, press, publication and assembly entitled to Hong Kong residents in accordance with law, it said.
FULL TEXT: HKSAR govt statement on UN committee findings
Both the Basic Law and the National Security Law stipulate the respect for and protection of human rights and all lawful rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, but no rights or freedoms are absolute and they must be exercised within the limits prescribed by law, the spokesperson pointed out.
Hong Kong is not a “political show arena” or “human rights fair” for a small number of external forces.
Spokesperson, Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR
“No one is above the law, and no rights or freedoms shall cross the red line of national security, which is a provision of the relevant international covenant and a common legal practice of all countries.”
The spokesperson pointed out that a few so-called “independent” human rights experts, taking slanders of anti-China forces as the factual basis and misleading reports as the judgment yardstick, ignored the fact of the continuous improvement of Hong Kong’s human rights situation.
Its so-called “conclusions” are totally inconsistent with the real human rights situation in Hong Kong and can convince no one, added the spokesperson.
“The European Union, pointing a finger at Hong Kong affairs by citing the conclusions, has exposed its hypocrisy and sinister intention of ‘playing the Hong Kong card’”, reads the statement.
Some Western countries have a tarnished record of human rights and their “human rights” are just window-dressing, but they still wade into others’ human rights situation in the name of “universal human rights”, it added.
READ MORE: UN's concluding observations over HK, Macao SARs opposed
“Hong Kong is not a “political show arena” or “human rights fair” for a small number of external forces,” the spokesperson said, urging the EU to stop vilifying Hong Kong’s rule of law and judicial independence, and interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs.
Safeguarding national security
Expressing firm opposition to and strong dissatisfaction with the so-called concluding observations by the UN Human Rights Committee, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said the observations turn a blind eye to the fact that the national security law and the improved electoral system in the SAR have fully safeguarded the rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents.
The implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the improvement of the its electoral system aimed to plug the loopholes in national security, safeguard the constitutional order and socio-economic stability in the HKSAR, protect Hong Kong residents' legitimate rights and freedom, and ensure extensive and balanced political participation, a spokesperson for the office said in a statement.
The spokesperson urged relevant international institution to abandon arrogance and prejudice, come to recognize the successful practice of "one country, two systems" and the facts that the national security law has safeguarded social stability and human rights in Hong Kong, and make objective and impartial judgment.
Liaison office in Macao opposes UN committee remarks
The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR expressed firm opposition to so-called concluding observations by the UN Human Rights Committee on the implementation of the relevant provisions of the ICCPR in Macao.
Certain contents are based on unverified reports or sources of information, and do not align with realities, and the criticism against the human rights situation in Macao is biased and baseless, said a spokesperson for the office.
“Macao residents enjoy an unprecedented range of rights and freedom in accordance with the law, which is a fact widely acknowledged by anyone without prejudice.”