EU playing Hong Kong card repugnant ploy

Editor's Note: The following are excerpts of a statement on the European Union's 25th annual report on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued by the spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR on Saturday:

We disapprove of and reject the EU's 2022 report on Hong Kong, which slandered "one country, two systems" and attacked the national security law and the situation of human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong. We urge the EU to immediately stop its interference in the Hong Kong affairs.

In the more than three years since the implementation of the national security law for the HKSAR, the rule of law and business environment in Hong Kong have become better, and society more stable and united, showing stronger vigor and vitality. Hong Kong has ushered in stability and prosperity, and opened a new chapter in good governance. The lawful rights of freedom of speech, press and association enjoyed by Hong Kong residents are better protected in a safer environment. The EU report, ignoring the basic facts, blaming China's just actions to safeguard national security, slandering the SAR government's law-based administration, and smearing the fair trial of the SAR courts and the bright future of Hong Kong, has degenerated into a tool for a political performance and has no credibility at all.

The EU itself faces multiple governance and development difficulties and human rights problems, such as the migrants and refugees issue, racial discrimination, the huge gap between the rich and the poor, and the energy crisis. Without reflecting on itself, the EU has blatantly violated international law and the basic norms of international relations, and wantonly interfered in the Hong Kong affairs. By playing the "Hong Kong card", the EU's hypocrisy and double standard have been laid bare.

The affairs of Hong Kong are China's internal affairs and brook no interference. Platitudes and fabricated reports of external forces cannot change China's determination to firmly safeguard "one country, two systems" and national security, nor can they stop the historical trend of Hong Kong moving from chaos to stability and prosperity. We urge the EU to put itself in the right position, stop vilifying the rule of law and human rights situation in Hong Kong, and stop the political manipulation of interfering in the Hong Kong affairs.