Govt Hits Back At 'slandering' Foreign Officials

The Hong Kong government on Sunday accused foreign governments of making "slandering" remarks about the National Security Law, which it said was equal – if not better than – similar national security laws in other jurisdictions.

The SAR government statement came hours after the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US Secretary of State issued a joint statement expressing their concern with last week's arrest of 55 people on suspicion of subversion.

The foreign ministers underscored their serious concern with the arrests under the National Security Law in their joint statement.

They said the law is a clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermines the One Country, Two Systems' framework.

They went on to say the law had curtained the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people.

“It is clear that the National Security Law is being used to eliminate dissent and opposing political views,” it said.

It called on Hong Kong and Beijing to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, and said it was crucial that September’s postponed Legco elections “proceed in a fair way that includes candidates representing a range of political opinions.”

The Hong Kong government said it was appalled by the remarks in the joint statement, as they seemed to suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions.

"The National Security Law, or indeed any law in the SAR, applies equally to every person in Hong Kong; no one is above the law,” it said.

"Hong Kong prides itself on the rule of law; law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to take action against unlawful acts, regardless of the political background of the suspects.,” the statement read. “Arrests made are based on evidence and strictly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations."

The government said it would not appropriate to comment on specific cases where investigations are ongoing, but felt it was necessary to give a response to set the record straight on the National Security Law.

“Contrary to allegations that the National Security Law undermines the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework, the National Security Law fully and faithfully implements the principles of 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy,” the government said.

“It clearly stipulates four types of offences endangering national security and the penalties,” it said. “At the same time, the National Security Law contains specific provisions upholding Hong Kong people's rights and freedoms under the Basic Law as well as the relevant provisions of international covenants on human rights as applied to Hong Kong.”

“The Law also provides for the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, and the right to defend oneself and other rights in judicial proceedings that a criminal suspect, defendant and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law."

It said these features of the National Security Law put it “on par with, if not superior to, similar national security laws in other jurisdictions.”

It said by making “slandering” remarks about the law in their joint statement, the foreign government officials had clearly adopted double standards.