Chinanews.com, October 23. According to the WeChat official account of the Office of the Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, the British government blatantly violated its promise and insisted on advancing the British National (Overseas) Passport (BNO) visa policy and the British Consul General in Hong Kong slandered the Hong Kong National Security Act The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition, demanding that the British side immediately correct its mistakes and stop hypocritical performances and political manipulation.
The spokesperson said that before the return of Hong Kong, China and Britain exchanged memoranda on the issue of BNO passports. In the memorandum, the British side explicitly promised not to grant Hong Kong Chinese citizens who hold BNO passports the right of abode in the UK.
The British side provides pathways for relevant persons to stay and naturalize in the UK, blatantly violated their commitments, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, and seriously violated international law and basic norms of international relations.
The spokesperson pointed out that the British side violated its promises, but they shouted to catch the thief, planted and smeared, distorted the "Sino-British Joint Declaration," and accused and criticized China.
The core essence of the "Sino-British Joint Declaration" is the Sino-British relationship on China's resumption of Hong Kong and related transitional arrangements. There are 8 main texts and 3 appendices. There is no word or one clause that entitles Britain to assume any responsibility for Hong Kong after Hong Kong returns.
The British side has no sovereignty, governance, or supervision over Hong Kong after the return.
The British so-called "promise to the people of Hong Kong" is completely wishful thinking and nonsense.
The spokesperson emphasized that safeguarding national security through legislation is the legitimate power of every sovereign country and no foreign interference is allowed.
The Hong Kong National Security Law has filled the loopholes in Hong Kong’s safeguarding of national security and put an end to the chaos of "Hong Kong independence" rampant and "black violence". The life of the general public in Hong Kong is back on track, free from the fear of violence and "privacy". These rights and freedoms have been better protected in accordance with the law, and Hong Kong is ushering in a major transition from chaos to governance.
The British side ignored these facts, reversed black and white, and slandered Hong Kong’s national security laws, again exposing its sinister intentions for fear that Hong Kong and China would not be chaotic.
The spokesman pointed out that the British side slandered China for restricting the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, but it was precisely the British side that restrained the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents during the period of Hong Kong administration.
During the more than 150 years of British rule over Hong Kong, Hong Kong citizens had no democracy and human rights. Successive governors were appointed by the British government.
When the British government ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976, it clearly stated through reservations that the provisions of the Convention on regular elections do not apply in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong-British Public Security Regulations and the Association Regulations imposed severe restrictions on assemblies, processions, and associations. It was not until shortly before the reunification that the British had ulteriorly revised the two regulations and relaxed restrictions on related activities.
Regarding the aforementioned "dark history" of the British side restricting the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, the British side did not mention a word and pretended to be deaf and dumb, but instead attacked and slandered China.
The fact that cannot be distorted is that the democracy, human rights and freedom enjoyed by the Hong Kong compatriots were only established and guaranteed after the reunification.
The spokesman emphasized that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.
The British side's attempt to use the BNO passport issue to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and contain China's development will only end in failure.
"We ask the British side to immediately correct its mistakes and stop political manipulation, otherwise it will definitely shoot itself in the foot."