China has announced it will take decisive countermeasures if the United States proceeds with imposing visa restrictions on officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the statement on Monday in response to the recent release of the U.S. State Department’s Hong Kong Policy Act Report, which includes plans to impose visa restrictions on HKSAR officials.
“The report smears and slanders the Hong Kong national security law, the region’s electoral system, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, defaming and attacking Hong Kong’s democracy, rule of law, human rights, and freedoms,” Wang stated during a press briefing.
He emphasized that the U.S. actions “seriously interfere in China’s internal affairs and violate the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations.” Wang noted that China has lodged stern representations with the U.S. side over the matter.
Since Hong Kong’s return to China, the central government has “accurately, comprehensively, and unswervingly implemented the principles of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and ‘Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong’ with a high degree of autonomy,” Wang said.
He highlighted that the enactment and implementation of the national security law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have ensured that the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” is upheld. This, he asserted, has guaranteed the HKSAR’s prosperity and stability and effectively safeguarded the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the law.
“Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs,” Wang stressed. “The central government is unwavering in its determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs.”
He urged the United States to “comprehensively and accurately understand the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, respect China’s sovereignty, respect Hong Kong’s rule of law, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form.”
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China to take countermeasures if U.S. restricts HKSAR officials visas
cgtn.com
