NPC Foreign Affairs Committee rejects EU resolution linked to national security law

Spokesman of the National People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee on Saturday strongly condemns and objects a resolution adopted on Friday by the European Parliament.

The resolution calls for the European Union to bring China to the International Court of Justice in The Hague over China's decision to legislate a national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

You Wenze, spokesman of the National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee, said the resolution seriously distorted the facts and blatantly intervened in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, under the pretext of protecting "human rights" and "Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy".

Since the unrest in Hong Kong in June last year, triggered by the amendment of the extradition bill, violent terrorist activities have been escalating, severely trampling the rule of law, social order, prosperity and stability, as well as the "one country, two systems" principle in the region, You said.

In view of the grim situation faced by Hong Kong in safeguarding national security, the NPC Standing Committee, which is the country's highest legislation, has the right to establish and improve Hong Kong's legal system and enforcement mechanism to maintain national security from the state level, he said.

It aims to further improve the region's legal system, ensure the stability of the "one country, two systems" principle and maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity, he added.

You said national security is closely related to sovereignty and territorial integrity and therefore is of the central government's concern in any country. China taking necessary measures to safeguard national security in accordance with the Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law is part of the country's internal affairs and is in line with the central government's policy toward Hong Kong.

The legislation only targets very few acts that seriously endanger national security and will protect the legitimate rights and interests enjoyed by Hong Kong people. It will not restrict their human rights and freedoms or harm the region's high autonomy or "one country, two systems" principle.

The spokesman said it is the country's Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law that serve as the legal basis for central government to govern Hong Kong, not the Sino British Joint Declaration.

The central government's policy toward Hong Kong, which was unilaterally declared in the declaration by Chinese government, has been incorporated into Hong Kong Basic Law and been fully and effectively implemented. Therefore, there is no such case of the Chinese government not abiding by the declaration.

The declaration does not entrust the United Kingdom with any responsibility for Hong Kong, nor does the United Kingdom have any sovereignty, government or supervision rights over the SAR, You said, adding that the declaration cannot be an excuse for any foreign country, organization or individual to interfere in Hong Kong affairs that are China's internal affairs.