The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council strongly condemns the so-called sanctions imposed by the U.S. government on the heads of the Chinese government’s Hong Kong-related agencies and officials in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 8. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council issued a statement on August 8, strongly condemning the US government’s announcement of the so-called sanctions on the heads of the Chinese government’s Hong Kong-related agencies and the officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stating that any intimidation and threats are minimal. We cannot shake our will to safeguard national security.

　　The statement stated that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law to close the loopholes in the relevant laws. It targets a very small number of behaviors and activities that seriously endanger national security and safeguards national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Completely legitimate and justified. The relevant legislation does not affect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, or the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong. The United States has tried its best to smear and attack Hong Kong’s National Security Law, and the introduction of relevant Hong Kong-related bills is a reversal of black and white, confusion of right and wrong, a guilty conscience, and a rake. The announcement of the so-called sanctions list against the relevant departments of the central government and many officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is even more a naked hegemonic act. It is a gross violation of international law and basic norms of international relations. It is arrogant, unreasonable, and shameless, and will be nailed forever. On the pillar of shame in history!

　　The statement stated that facts fully proved that the United States is the disruptor, disruptor and saboteur of the "one country, two systems" practice and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The Chinese people have never been afraid of sanctions, intimidation and threats from any external forces. The U.S. should not miscalculate. Our determination to strictly implement Hong Kong’s National Security Law and to effectively safeguard national sovereignty and security is as solid as a rock and cannot be shaken; our determination to fully and accurately implement the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy is as solid as a rock and cannot be shaken; Our determination to oppose the United States and other external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs and not allowing any external forces such as the United States to use Hong Kong to infiltrate and subvert China is as firm as a rock and cannot be shaken. Any intimidation and threats from the United States are doomed to bankruptcy and will reap the consequences.