Foreign politicians blasted for double standards

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday lambasted the "double standard and hypocrisy" of some foreign politicians who have questioned the legitimacy of the central authorities' introducing national security legislation for the city.

"Much of the criticism and commentary from politicians and pundits is no more than alarmist speculation and innuendo that completely ignore the constitutional reality that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China," a government spokesman said.

To plug legal loopholes in national security, the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, proposed on Friday a draft decision to enact a national security law for Hong Kong.

Over the past few days, more than 200 foreign politicians including those from the United States and the United Kingdom have accused Beijing of undermining the SAR's freedom.

The spokesman rebuked the accusations, saying that China, like any other sovereign country, must protect its national security. It's well-known that international covenants on rights and freedoms cannot undermine national security, he noted.

No country would or could turn a blind eye to the resurgence of the violence and anarchy that has plagued Hong Kong for almost a year, the spokesman said.

Protest violence has returned to the streets of Hong Kong after a pandemic-induced lull. During the unlawful rallies on Sunday, more than 180 rioters were arrested for various offenses. Several police officers were injured.

"Sadly, and perhaps tellingly, those who claim to be acting in Hong Kong's best interests turn a blind eye to … the unlawful conducts by radical protesters and their hidden handlers to stoke fear and chaos. …Their truly deceitful intentions are exposed," the spokesperson said.

The proposed national security law targets acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign intervention. The spokesman reassured Hong Kong residents that the overwhelming majority of them, including overseas investors, have nothing to fear, and that all the rights and freedoms they enjoy now will remain intact.

Some influential figures from the legal and political sectors also hit out at foreign politicians' criticism.

Willy Fu Kin-chi, a law professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, said their conduct is "unfair, unreasonable, and a double standard".

They have similar national security laws in their own countries, but they question Beijing's authority and legitimacy to introduce such legislation within China's territory, said Fu, who is also the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation.

He said some Western politicians tend to interfere in other nations' affairs for political or economic gains. The West has an ideological bias against China because they fear China's growing power, Fu said.

Hoffman Ma Ho-man, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's National Committee, said these criticisms are not based on facts or any international standards, but merely show a double standard arising from unfounded accusations or Western supremacy.

"It is a dynamic war against China, including the ongoing trade war, the COVID-19 blame game and even the situation in Hong Kong. At any angle, there is just an ultimate goal — to discredit the Chinese government," said Ma, deputy chairman of Success Universe Group.

He said these politicians, who intend to arrest China's economic growth, were trying to use the financial hub of Hong Kong to disrupt the country's development.

Echoing Ma's concerns, Barrister Lawrence Ma Yan-kwok said those Western powers certainly would like to see a disrupted Hong Kong, especially when there are so many simple-minded youngsters subject to their manipulation.

"These Western powers believe they would gain from an ailing and embattled China because they see China as a threat, or at least a not complaisant or noncomplying competitor," said Ma, who chairs Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation.