Photo: Xinhua

China strongly opposes blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs by some Western politicians and their serious violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom at a press briefing on Monday.

The foreign ministers of the UK, Australia and Canada, and the US Secretary of State issued a joint statement Saturday expressing concern over the arrests of 55 politicians and activists by the Hong Kong police.

In the statement, the ministers said the new Hong Kong National Security Law was a “clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration”.

The embassy spokesperson said that their statement displayed the collusion of those Western politicians in support of criminal offenders in Hong Kong in disregard of facts.

“Hong Kong police made the arrests in accordance with law and their enforcement action brooks no discrediting or disruption,” said the spokesperson.

“Those criminals plotted and organized activities aimed at paralyzing the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) government and are suspected of subversion of state power,” the spokesperson said.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is about China resuming sovereignty over Hong Kong, rather than giving the UK or any other country the right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs, the spokesperson stressed.

“No country should use the joint declaration as an excuse to interfere in Hong Kong affairs,” the spokesperson said.

The Hong Kong National Security Law effectively upholds rather than curtails the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, the spokesperson said.

It helps fully and accurately implement “one country, two systems,” the spokesperson said.

“Since enactment of the law, Hong Kong has brought an end to chaos and restored law and order,” the spokesperson said.

“‘One country, two systems’ has demonstrated stronger vitality, and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are now better guaranteed.”

The spokesperson urged the UK, the US, Australia and Canada to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, and stop going further down the wrong path.

(Compiled by Bai Yuanqi)