HK, Macao Affairs Office hits back after US attacks

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Monday strongly condemned the United States imposing sanctions on Hong Kong, and some US politician's verbal attacks on the special administrative region's autonomy.

US President Donald Trump announced last week Hong Kong's preferential trade status will be revoked after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed Hong Kong no longer enjoyed a high degree of autonomy from China due to the upcoming national security legislation for the SAR.

These remarks about Hong Kong are lies and slander, a spokesperson of the office said.

The adoption of the decision to introduce national security legislation in Hong Kong by the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, is to prevent, stop and punish acts and activities that endanger state security, according to the office.

The decision will in no way undermine Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedom enjoyed by local people. On the contrary, it will strengthen the foundation of "one country, two systems" in the SAR, it said.

The spokesperson said safeguarding national security is the top priority of all countries. The US did everything it can in its national security legislation, and even abused the national security excuse to crack down on foreign companies and detain foreign citizens in the US.

US authorities are not in a position to comment on China's internal affairs; on the contrary, some politicians bear responsibility for the grim situation in Hong Kong today, the spokesperson said.

"Some US politicians who are hostile to China and afraid of China's growth are backing up and providing protection for the radical separatist forces in Hong Kong," the spokesperson said, adding this proves how necessary, important and urgent it is to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the SAR.

"The US administration claimed to support the high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong, but has threatened to remove preferential treatment for Hong Kong's trade. It is outside forces such as the US that have proved disruptive to Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy," the spokesperson said.

"The future of Hong Kong is in the hands of the 1.4 billion Chinese, including HK compatriots. The Chinese government will safeguard Hong Kong's security and support its development, and stand ready to respond to any act that undermines Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," the spokesperson added.