Chinese Embassy in UK says Raab's statement on security law contains 'irresponsible remarks'

The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said today the statement given by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the House of Commons on Tuesday "once again" contains irresponsible remarks on the Hong Kong national security law and constitutes a flagrant interference in the city's affairs, and that China expresses grave concern and strong opposition.

Raab said the controversial law would upend China’s “One Country, Two Systems” paradigm, undermine the existing commitments to protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, and violate the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.

And if China enacts the law, the UK will consider what further response it makes, working with those international partners and others, and change the arrangements for British National Overseas passport-holders in Hong Kong.

In a statement today, an embassy spokesperson reiterated that the national security legislation for Hong Kong is purely China’s internal affair, in which no foreign country has the right to interfere, and that it is the central government that is responsible for upholding national security as in all countries.

The spokesperson also said the national security legislation for Hong Kong facilitates the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” and helps safeguard the rights and freedom of the Hong Kong residents, and that the allegation that the legislation violates the Sino-British Joint Declaration is a false proposition as the rights and obligations of the UK laid out in the declaration were "all fulfilled at the time of the handover on 1 July 1997."

"We urge the UK side to accept the fact that Hong Kong is now part of China, and to observe the principle of non-interference in other country’s internal affairs. Meddling in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, will be self-defeating."