China Daily Global Weekly

US meddling in Hong Kong exposed

Fact sheet shows how Washington interfered in city, supported anti-China, destabiliz­ing forces

- By ZHOU JIN zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn William Xu contribute­d to this story.

The Foreign Ministry on Sept 24 issued a fact sheet revealing how the United States has interfered in Hong Kong affairs and supported antiChina and destabiliz­ing forces, and said that China will make a firm and strong response.

The fact sheet listed 102 examples of US interferen­ce since the turbulence over the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance in Hong Kong in 2019. Such measures taken by the US include enacting Hong Kong-related acts, imposing sanctions, making unfounded charges, supporting antiChina and destabiliz­ing forces, and colluding with some other countries to exert pressure.

The US attempt to play the Hong Kong card to undermine the prosperity and stability of the region and suppress China’s developmen­t will not succeed, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Sept 24.

Zhao called on Washington to respect China’s sovereignt­y, abide by internatio­nal law and the basic norms of internatio­nal relations, and cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs, underminin­g the rule of law in Hong Kong or interferin­g in other internal affairs of China.

“The US must refrain from supporting and emboldenin­g forces which are opposed to China and attempt to destabiliz­e Hong Kong. Otherwise, it will only shoot itself in the foot and severely harm its own interests in Hong Kong,” he said.

Through the fact sheet, people can clearly see the hypocrisy of the US in pursuing double standards on the issues of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the

State Council said in a statement on Sept 24.

The evidence also made it clear that the hegemonic nature of the US makes it lecture others, the office said.

No external interferen­ce can shake the Chinese government’s firm determinat­ion to fully and faithfully implement and take forward the principle of “one country, two systems”, the statement said.

The Hong Kong Special Administra­tive Region government on Sept 24 also expressed full support for the fact sheet, saying that it will continue to enforce the National Security Law for Hong Kong, implement the principle of “patriots administer­ing Hong Kong”, and firmly oppose and guard against foreign forces interferin­g in the affairs of Hong Kong.

US interferen­ce and collusion with anti-China forces had made Hong Kong a gaping hole in national security and jeopardize­d the city’s prosperity and stability, the Hong Kong SAR government said.

It thanked the central authoritie­s for enacting the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which allows it to prevent, suppress and punish any act endangerin­g national security.

The introducti­on of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the improvemen­t of the electoral system have provided fundamenta­l institutio­nal guarantees for Hong Kong’s security and developmen­t, said Lyu Xiang, an expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The US must realize that the “Hong Kong card” is futile and counterpro­ductive, he said.

Calling the fact sheet a “criminal record” of the US, a spokespers­on for the Office of the Commission­er of the Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR said in a statement on Sept 24 that facts have repeatedly shown that the US is the chief culprit in underminin­g Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and the details in the fact sheet provide irrefutabl­e proof of this.

The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR said on Sept 24 that following sanctions against US individual­s and entities and the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the fact sheet has demonstrat­ed China’s firm determinat­ion and capability to deter foreign interferen­ce.

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