Q: On September 22, the EU side released its annual reports on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region. What is China’s comment?

A: We have noticed the relevant reports. The reports published by the EU side year after year disregard facts, wantonly point fingers at the affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, and has lodged solemn representations with the EU side.

Hong Kong and Macao affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no interference from any external forces. We urge the EU side to respect facts and adopt a right perspective, view objectively and impartially the economic and social development of Hong Kong and Macao and the remarkable achievements made under “One Country, Two Systems,” uphold international law and basic norms governing international relations, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty, immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong and Macao affairs in any form, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the guise of so-called “democracy” and “freedom”, and take practical actions to uphold the big picture of China-EU relations.