China opposes passage of HK bill by US Senate

China firmly opposes the passage of a Hong Kong-related bill by the United States Senate, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday, urging the US side to stop pushing the bill to become law and stop interfering in China's domestic affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks in an online statement after the US Senate passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on Tuesday.

Noting the act ignores facts and truth, applies double standards and blatantly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, Geng said it is in serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

China condemns and firmly opposes it, he said, adding that the country will take strong countermeasures to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests if the US insists on making the wrong decisions.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has been proven to be a universally recognized success, Geng said, adding that citizens in Hong Kong now enjoy democratic rights at an unprecedented level and lawfully practice their freedoms.

The act remains blind on facts and Hong Kong people's wellbeing, and out of hidden political agenda, it paints criminal moves as pursuit of human rights and democracy when the truth is violent criminals rampantly smashed facilities, committed arson, bullied and attacked innocent civilians, forcibly occupied university campuses, mobbed young students, and assaulted police officers in a premeditated way, Geng said.

He noted that the aim is to bolster the anti-China extremist and violent radicals who attempt to damage the city’s prosperity and stability so as to contain China.

Such vicious move will not only undermine China's interests but also the US interests in Hong Kong, he said, adding that attempts to interfere in or impede China's development will be in vain.

The US should grasp the situation and stop its wrongdoing before it's too late, Geng said, urging Washington to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's domestic affairs, or it will bear the negative consequences.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council made serious protest to and strongly condemned the passing of the act.

In Hong Kong, the Liaison Office of the Chinese Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) echoed the stance by expressing strong indignation and condemnation.

A spokesperson for the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expressed regret over the passage of Hong Kong-related acts by the US Senate.

The spokesperson said the two acts, including the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, are unnecessary and unwarranted and will harm the relations and common interests between Hong Kong and the US.

Stressing that the HKSAR government will continue to implement the "one country, two systems" principle resolutely in accordance with the Basic Law, the spokesperson was quoted as saying in a press release: "Safeguarding human rights and freedoms is a constitutional duty of the HKSAR Government. Article 4 of the Basic Law stipulates that the HKSAR shall safeguard the rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR and of other persons in the Region in accordance with law.

"Human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong are fully protected by the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance and other legislation, in addition to the Basic Law. Also, the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall remain in force. The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to human rights and freedoms and is determined to safeguard them."