Q: On July 7, 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, criticizing the arrest by Hong Kong police of Cardinal Joseph Zen and other individuals related to the “612 Fund”, and attacking the human rights situation in Hong Kong. What is your comment?
A: The relevant resolution of the European Parliament is disregarding basic facts and confusing right and wrong. It made irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong police’s law enforcement actions, maliciously smeared the human rights situation and the successful practice of One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong. This constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose it.
Hong Kong is a law-based society where no organization or individual is above the law and all law-breakers shall be held to account in accordance with law. Hong Kong police, in accordance with their statutory functions and powers and legal procedures, investigated and arrested those suspected of engaging in activities that endanger national security. These are legitimate and necessary actions to safeguard national security as well as the rule of law and justice in the Hong Kong SAR. However, making groundless comments on Hong Kong police’s lawful and impartial law enforcement actions, and even demanding the repeal of related charges is a blatant trampling on Hong Kong’s rule of law and a gross interference in its judicial independence and high degree of autonomy.
Under British colonial rule over one and a half century, all the 28 governors were directly appointed by the United Kingdom. There was no election nor democracy in Hong Kong, thus the people of Hong Kong had never enjoyed real freedoms. Ever since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the Chinese Central government has been earnestly implementing the One Country, Two Systems principle and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and Hong Kong people have enjoyed their status as masters of the region. With the policy of Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy, Hong Kong people are able to enjoy their democratic rights and freedoms at an unprecedented level. However, in recent years, anti-China, destabilizing forces with the support of external forces have gone to openly challenge the principle and red line of the One Country, Two Systems, sabotage Hong Kong’s social order and undermine its prosperity and stability. The Chinese Central government responded swiftly and took a series of decisive measures that addressed both the symptoms and root causes of the unrest and restored order to Hong Kong so that the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people are better protected in a safer environment. However, some politicians from the EU side turn a blind eye to the fact that Hong Kong society is back on the right track, the rule of law and justice is upheld, and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people are protected. Instead, they point fingers at Hong Kong over its human rights situation and high degree of autonomy. This has only revealed their hypocrisy and double standards as well as their attempt to contain China by destabilizing Hong Kong.
In his important speech at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the success of One country, Two systems has won recognition throughout the world. There is no reason for us to change such a good policy, and we must adhere to it in the long run. It’s necessary to remind the European Parliament that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. Any interference will not reverse the historical trend of Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to stability and prosperity. We urge the European Parliament to respect Hong Kong’s rule of law and China’s sovereignty, abide by international law and basic norms of international relations and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any form.