China News Agency, Beijing, June 18 (Reporter Zhang Su) The US State Department stated that the US strongly condemned the Hong Kong police's arrest of the relevant personnel of the "Apple Daily" and called for their immediate release.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made three responses at a regular press conference on the 18th.
Zhao Lijian first pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Liaison Office of the Hong Kong Central Committee, and the National Security Agency in Hong Kong have responded to relevant issues. The Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong also criticized and clarified the absurd statements of individual foreign officials.
He emphasized three points at the meeting:
First, Hong Kong is a society ruled by law, everyone is equal before the law, no one has extra-legal privileges, and no institution is an extra-legal place.
No right and freedom, including freedom of the press, can break through the bottom line of national security.
We firmly support the SAR government and the police in performing their duties in accordance with the law, and firmly support all efforts to maintain national security and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
Second, the Hong Kong National Security Law focuses on cracking down on a small group of anti-China chaos in Hong Kong who seriously endanger national security, and protects the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the vast majority of Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, including freedom of speech.
Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Hong Kong society has returned to stability, the rule of law and justice has been upheld, and the legal rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents and foreign citizens in Hong Kong have been better protected in a safer environment. This is an objective fact that cannot be denied.
Third, Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and no country, organization or individual has the right to interfere.
We urge individual foreign politicians to put aside their arrogance and prejudice, abandon double standards, earnestly respect the law enforcement of the SAR, respect the Hong Kong people’s desire to have stable social order and a normal life, respect the fact that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and respect non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. 1. The basic norms of international law and international relations.
When answering questions from reporters at the meeting, Zhao Lijian reiterated that the facts of the case are clear, the evidence is solid, and it has nothing to do with freedom of the press.
(Finish)