Office blasts 'ridiculous' West arguments

The liaison office yesterday hit out at the "ridiculous" comments made by Western politicians regarding introducing national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that enacting strict national security laws in the SAR will see Beijing further deprive Hong Kong of its freedoms, while the British Foreign Office slammed the crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

A spokesman for the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Hong Kong said: "Politicians from the West are making baseless accusations against the enactment of Article 23 under the Basic Law, while also making unreasonable attacks on one country, two systems and the Basic Law itself.

"It is shocking how ridiculous their arguments are and how arrogant they are."

He also pointed out that it is Hong Kong's constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security as a special administrative region, which makes it strictly China's domestic affairs, adding other countries should not intervene.

"These mistaken comments by foreign politicians are a severe breach of international laws and the basic criteria of international relationships, and yet another example of foreign powers blatantly interfering with Hong Kong and China's domestic affairs."

The spokesman added that a report by US-based National Democratic Institute was packed with lies and "double standards, which have distorted the facts of the anti-fugitive bill saga.

"Radicals [in Hong Kong] ignoring the rule of law and destroying humanity, as well as their violent acts, were beautified and labeled as peaceful demonstrations, while the SAR government and the police force, which have been keeping the law and order, were vilified," he said.

"We strongly oppose their pernicious practice of giving support to violent radicals who are breaching the law and hampering the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong."

This is the second statement from the liaison office in two straight days.

It earlier slammed local politicians for inciting Friday's gatherings and violence and promoting the "yellow economy."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com