File photo: VCG

BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the move of the US side of signing the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" into law, said a statement released on the foreign ministry's website Wednesday.

In disregard of China's serious representations, the United States recently signed into law the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" passed by its Congress, according to the statement.

The Act maliciously denigrates the national security legislation for Hong Kong, and threatens to impose sanctions on China. It seriously violates international law and the basic norms underpinning international relations. It constitutes gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.

"The Chinese government firmly opposes and strongly condemns this move by the United States," said the statement.

The enactment and enforcement of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is fully consistent with the relevant provisions of the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

It provides the institutional and legal safeguards for the sound and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems," and serves to uphold sovereignty, security and development interests of the country as well as the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. The Law is unanimously supported and endorsed by all the Chinese people including the people in Hong Kong, the statement said.

Noting Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, the statement said Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. No foreign country has the right to interfere. China is firmly resolved to uphold its sovereignty and security, safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and oppose external meddling in Hong Kong affairs. The U.S. attempt to obstruct the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong will never succeed.

In order to safeguard its legitimate interests, China will make necessary response and sanction the relevant individuals and entities of the United States, said the statement.

"We urge the US side to correct its mistakes, not to enforce the so-called 'Hong Kong Autonomy Act,' and stop interfering in Hong Kong and other internal affairs of China in any way," it said, adding that if the U.S. side insists on going in the wrong direction, China will respond resolutely.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said on Wednesday that Washington's meddling in Hong Kong affairs and its threat are acts of bullying driven by hegemonic logic.

The office said in a statement that no external forces will undermine China's resolve and confidence in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

US economic sanctions will not substantially affect Hong Kong, but instead will severely dampen its own interests in the region, the office said.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council also expressed strong indignation. It said in a statement that the National Security Law for Hong Kong has taken effect and will be implemented rigorously.

Any act that endangers national security will be seriously punished without regard for external opinions, it said, adding that US attempts to block the law's implementation will never succeed.

The Hong Kong SAR government said on Wednesday that it will fully cooperate with the central government in taking countermeasures to frustrate US attempts at hegemony.

The US moves, using human rights, democracy and autonomy as an excuse, are a product of its own political calculations, the SAR government said, and the act constitutes a violation of international law and an attempt to make trouble in Hong Kong and contain China.

The SAR government said the US law and presidential order ending Washington's preferential treatment for Hong Kong have no legal force for the financial institutions of Hong Kong.

(With input from China Daily)