China News Service, Washington, March 20: In response to the U.S. State Department spokesperson’s unreasonable accusations against the Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council’s unanimous approval of the “Maintenance of National Security Ordinance”, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United States said in response to a reporter’s question on the 20th that China has slandered and smeared the United States. express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition.

　　The spokesperson said that the Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council unanimously passed the "Maintenance of National Security Ordinance", marking the Hong Kong SAR's effective implementation of the constitutional responsibilities stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law and building a "protective wall" for Hong Kong's long-term peace, prosperity and stability. In the new era, The new journey of "one country, two systems" is an important milestone in the development of the cause.

　　The spokesman pointed out that the "Ordinance" punishes a very small number of criminals who endanger national security and protects the vast majority of Hong Kong residents who abide by the law. The normal activities of foreign institutions, enterprises and personnel will also be fully protected by law.

The relevant crimes in the regulations are clearly defined, the boundaries between crimes and non-crimes are clear, the penalties are reasonable, and the regulatory measures are appropriate.

The definitions of "overseas interference" fully take into account the actual situation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and draw on the common practices of other countries. They are reasonable, legal and beyond reproach.

During the public consultation stage, all sectors of society enthusiastically expressed their opinions and actively offered suggestions. More than 98.6% of the opinions supported the legislation.

　　The spokesperson emphasized that the Regulations are both a law to ensure security and a law to ensure development. They are good laws and good laws that effectively balance the maintenance of national security with the protection of rights, freedoms and economic development.

Looking back on the 2019 "Regulations Amendment Troubles", "Hong Kong independence" was rampant, "black violence" was rampant, and "speculation" was rampant, causing all industries to decline and social unrest. How could we protect people's livelihood, develop the economy, and open up to the outside world?

The "Ordinance" will help the SAR better coordinate development and security, ensure high-quality development with high-level security, better leverage Hong Kong's unique status and advantages, and better deepen more open and closer exchanges and cooperation with other countries and regions.

After the legislation is passed, it will not affect Hong Kong's original capitalist system and way of life, nor will it affect citizens' normal lives and rights and freedoms exercised in accordance with the law. It will not affect normal business activities and international exchanges and cooperation. The advantages of "two systems" will be further enhanced. Manifest.

　　The spokesman said that the Ordinance is in line with the legislative trends of countries around the world in safeguarding national security, is in line with Hong Kong's common law system, fully draws on similar legislative experience in other countries, especially common law countries, and is in line with internationally accepted practices and rules.

According to statistics, the United States has at least 21 laws to safeguard national security. The number of laws and the frequency of amendments and updates are rare in the world. However, it in turn denigrates and discredits China's legitimate and reasonable legislation. Why is this?

　　The spokesman said that Hong Kong belongs to China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. No foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks or interfere.

We urge the United States to respect China's sovereignty, abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.

Any attack or smear on Hong Kong’s national security regulations will never succeed and will be doomed to fail.

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