It has been two months since the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. To evaluate how the law works and its effects, it is always the 1.4 billion Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, who have the final say on it. However, a group of special rapporteurs from the United Nations Human Right Council, including Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, wrote in an open letter that disregarded the facts, maliciously slandered China's human rights situation and smeared the Hong Kong national security law. Chinese people will never accept their behavior.
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson advised them to respect the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, discard ignorance, prejudice and double standards, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. The spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the UN Office at Geneva also said that China firmly opposes and completely rejects it.
The purpose of enacting the Hong Kong national security law is to plug the legal loopholes in Hong Kong, and to prevent, stop and punish the four categories of criminal acts that seriously endanger national security. As the national security was "undefended", Hong Kong secessionists and radical forces were rampant, escalating violent terrorist activities. The external forces blatantly intervened in Hong Kong affairs, which cast a shadow over the "Pearl of the Orient". The enactment of the Hong Kong national security law is compelling and imperative.
Ensuring national security through legislation is a common practice globally. The groundless accusations made by the experts against the Hong Kong national security law are untenable. They falsely claimed that the Hong Kong national security law "appears to criminalize freedom of expression or any form of criticism." In fact, the Hong Kong national security law clearly stipulates respect and protection of human rights, and protects Hong Kong residents’ rights and freedoms in accordance with the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that are applicable to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong national security law punishes very few, but protects the vast majority. If this has caused some people to lose their freedom, it is the freedom to openly collude with external forces, engage in violence, terror, and secession activities. Which country in the world would allow such freedom? If such freedom should be protected, how could the safety and freedom of Hong Kong citizens be maintained?
The letter from the experts maliciously speculates that the Hong Kong national security law "appears to undermine the independence of judges and lawyers." In fact, the Hong Kong national security law has strict regulations on the jurisdiction, application of law and procedures in cases, and has not changed the status of relevant personnel under the common law system.
The enactment and implementation of the Hong Kong national security law is broadly supported by Hong Kong citizens, as crimes of endangering national security have been effectively contained, and Hong Kong society has restored order and tranquillity. Prior to this, more than 70 countries have spoken at the United Nations to express their support to China on the progress of legislation on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong. However, some "experts" who have no professional quality and are full of arrogance and prejudice, without conducting objective, fair, and comprehensive research, wantonly distort and slander the law, abuse their authority and fan the sinophobic atmosphere for certain Western countries and anti-China forces. They are devoid of basic professional ethics and have no credibility at all. Their rhetoric is not worth refuting at all.
Only by enacting the Hong Kong national security law can we better protect human rights and safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. The Chinese government is firm in its determination to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs. By no force and under no circumstance will China shake off its determination.