The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom has issued a statement on Thursday lambasting a report published by the British Government criticizing Hong Kong’s National Security Law and accusing the Chinese Executive of breaching the agreements signed by both countries on the transfer of sovereignty of the territory in 1997.
According to the Embassy spokesman in a statement, the United Kingdom has «disregarded China’s solemn position», as it would have «seriously» interfered in Hong Kong affairs, «which are China’s internal affairs».
«(UK) has gravely violated the basic rules governing international relations. We are deeply dissatisfied and firmly oppose it, and have lodged stern demarches with the British side,» the Asian giant’s embassy has asserted in the missive.
As defended by the Chinese representation in the British territory, the Chinese central government has «fully and faithfully» implemented the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy, under which the Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.
«The improvement of Hong Kong’s electoral system reflects the principle that patriots administer Hong Kong. Today, Hong Kong residents enjoy far more rights and freedoms under the law than under British colonial rule,» the Embassy spokesman has reproached.
In this sense, he remarked that Hong Kong affairs «are purely China’s internal affairs» and that they do not allow foreign interference. Therefore, they urged the British side to «recognize the reality» and to discard «the colonial mentality», respecting the unity of China, accusing the UK of violating the basic rules governing international relations.
Earlier, the UK government has shared a report that China «continues to breach the Sino-British Joint Declaration,» and that the actions taken by the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities «have further diminished the way of life that the Chinese government pledged to continue.»
«The space for the people of Hong Kong to exercise the rights and freedoms promised to them by Beijing was again significantly reduced,» the document states.
According to the UK, political opposition in Hong Kong has been detained, human rights lawyers have been harassed and pro-democracy media have been forced to close down,» which would undermine the commitments made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
«The Chinese government freely subscribed to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, but has subsequently chosen to disregard those commitments. The Chinese authorities argue that the National Security Law, election changes and other restrictions on civil liberties are necessary to achieve stability in the wake of the violent unrest,» the report concludes.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
