The seven foreign ministers and the EU are concerned that the Article 23 legislation is eroding Hong Kong’s human rights and freedoms. The government strongly condemns the smear campaign and denounces hypocritical double standards | Independent media reports | Independent media

[Independent media report]The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven Major Industrial Countries (G7) and the European Union High Representative issued a joint statement after the Italian Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Friday (19th), expressing concern over Hong Kong’s recent passage of Article 23 of the Basic Law, believing that it will further erode Hong Kong’s autonomy and human rights. and basic freedoms, making it more difficult to live, work and do business in Hong Kong. The SAR government issued a statement today, strongly condemning the statement for deliberately misleading the public and discrediting the National Security Law and the “Maintenance of National Security Ordinance” with false and biased remarks. It also pointed out that many common law jurisdictions have enacted multiple regulations to safeguard national security. The foreign ministers of the seven countries and the high representatives of the European Union turned a blind eye to this and spoke nonsense, which is “a typical double standard of political hegemony and hypocrisy.”

The G7 and the EU issued a statement expressing concern over the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law

The Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States Secretary of State, and the High Representative of the European Union issued a statement on “Responding to Global Challenges and Promoting Partnerships” on Friday, mentioning the impact on Hong Kong since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020. Expressing concern over the continued deterioration of social diversity and civil and political rights, the Council also pointed out that the recent passage of Article 23 of the Basic Law legislation has further eroded Hong Kong’s autonomy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, making it more difficult to live, work and do business in Hong Kong and weakening the The ability of Hong Kong people to maintain free and open communication with the world.

The statement calls on China to abide by its commitments in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, maintain Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy, and calls on the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to act in accordance with international commitments and applicable legal obligations.

Denounce political hegemony and sinister intentions

A government spokesman issued a statement today to strongly condemn, saying that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has the constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and many common law jurisdictions, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, have enacted a number of laws to safeguard national security. Safe laws, criticizing the foreign ministers of the seven countries and the high representatives of the European Union for turning a blind eye to this and speaking nonsense, “is a typical double standard of political hegemony and hypocrisy.”

The spokesman pointed out that during the legislative consultation on Article 23 of the Basic Law, 98.6% of the opinions expressed support, which reflects that the legislation has a strong consensus in society and is what the people want. The crimes stipulated in the “Maintenance of National Security Ordinance” are precisely targeted at acts that endanger national security, and clearly specify the elements of crimes and penalties. They will not affect normal business and normal exchanges with other parts of the world. The “Ordinance” clearly stipulates that they are subject to the “Basic Law” The foreign ministers of the seven countries and the high representative of the European Union “turned a blind eye to the provisions and attacked them wantonly, which fully exposed their sinister intentions.”

The spokesman strongly urged foreign governments with “ulterior motives” to stop slandering, slandering, and interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs. He said foreign governments should ensure that their comments on the National Security Law and the Ordinance are fair and balanced, and stop making alarmist remarks.

The spokesperson also reiterated that the core essence of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is that “China has resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and has not given the British side the right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs after the return.” The British side has no sovereignty or governance over Hong Kong after the return. There is also no supervisory power.