China News Agency, Vancouver, May 29. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada issued a statement in Ottawa on May 29, local time, saying that the foreign ministers of Canada and relevant countries issued a so-called "joint statement", commented rashly on Hong Kong affairs, and grossly interfered in China. internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this. China has made solemn representations to Canada in this regard.
The spokesman pointed out that as China resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, all rights and obligations related to the British side as stipulated in the "Sino-British Joint Statement" have been fulfilled. After the return of Hong Kong, the legal basis for the Chinese government to govern the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the Constitution of the People ’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, not the "Sino-British Joint Declaration." The countries concerned have no legal basis and no qualification to invoke the "Sino-British Joint Statement" to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs.
The spokesman said that since the storm in June 2019, the "Hong Kong Independence" organization and the local radical separation forces have become increasingly rampant, violent terrorist activities have been escalating, and external forces have deeply illegally intervened in Hong Kong affairs, which have caused serious national security in China. The harm also poses a huge threat to Hong Kong's maintenance of prosperity and stability and the promotion of "one country, two systems". It is imperative to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security.
The spokesman said that national security legislation is the power and responsibility of the Central Government and does not fall within the autonomy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Central Government authorized Article 23 of the Basic Law to authorize the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to make its own legislation and perform its constitutional responsibilities, but this does not affect the central government ’s continued construction of a legal system and enforcement mechanism to maintain national security according to actual conditions and needs. The central government bears the greatest and ultimate responsibility for the national security of all local administrative regions. This is the basic theory and principle of national sovereignty, and it is also a common practice in all countries in the world.
The spokesman emphasized that the National Security Legislation Decision of the National People ’s Congress of China is aimed at a very small number of acts that seriously endanger national security, does not affect the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong, does not affect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, and does not affect the legitimateness of foreign investors in Hong Kong rights and interests. The National People's Congress has passed the relevant decision with high votes, and the legislative process will be launched later. This will enable Hong Kong to have a more complete legal system, a more stable social order, a better rule of law and a business environment, which is conducive to maintaining the basic policy of "one country, two systems" It is conducive to maintaining Hong Kong's status as a financial, trade and shipping center.
The spokesman said that China strongly urges Canada to take an objective and fair view of China ’s National People ’s Congress decisions, abide by the basic principles of international relations, and immediately stop using Hong Kong-related issues to interfere in China ’s internal affairs. Add your own image. (Finish)