China News Service, Hong Kong, October 6 A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong) expressed firm opposition on the 6th and strongly condemned it.

　　The spokesperson said that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Sino-US Consular Treaty, China and the United States should provide adequate facilities for each other's diplomatic consuls in their respective countries to perform their duties in accordance with the law.

China has always provided convenience for the normal activities of the US embassies and consulates and their personnel in China in accordance with laws and regulations.

However, since October 2019, despite China’s resolute opposition and solemn representations, the U.S. has repeatedly introduced restrictions on the normal performance of duties by Chinese embassies and consulates in the U.S. and required senior Chinese diplomats in the U.S. to visit U.S. universities or cooperate with them. Meetings with local government officials require prior approval from the US State Department.

Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States hold foreign cultural activities with more than 50 people, and they also need to obtain approval from the US State Department.

This arrogant and unreasonable act brutally tramples on international law and the basic norms of international relations, severely interferes with Sino-US relations and the normal exchanges between the two peoples, and runs counter to the "idea of ​​openness and freedom" advertised by the United States.

　　The spokesperson pointed out that the relevant measures taken by the Chinese side against the US embassies and consulates in China are a reciprocal, necessary and justified response to the US's unwarranted suppression and unreasonable restrictions on Chinese diplomatic and consular institutions and personnel.

The Basic Law of Hong Kong clearly stipulates that the central government is responsible for the management of foreign affairs related to the SAR.

The agreement on the establishment of the US consulate in Hong Kong was signed by the Chinese central government and the US government. It did not provide any special treatment to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong.

China has introduced relevant countermeasures and applied them to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong. They are completely legitimate and reasonable. They have not violated the principle of "one country, two systems".

　　The spokesman said that the countermeasures taken by China are a legitimate response to the bullying by the US, and are aimed at urging the US to stop setting up obstacles to exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and have nothing to do with the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law.

China will continue to support normal exchanges and cooperation between all walks of life in China and the United States, and support normal exchanges and cooperation between all walks of life in Hong Kong. At the same time, we firmly oppose any external forces under the guise of so-called "human rights and freedom" to damage China’s sovereignty, security, Acts that undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

　　The spokesperson once again urged the United States to rethink introspection, immediately correct its mistakes, stop the clumsy performance that reverses black and white, and the wicked complain first, stop smearing and slandering the "one country, two systems", stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, and remove restrictions on the activities of the Chinese embassy and its personnel in the United States. Unreasonable practice. (Finish)