Hong Kong national security law: government says Western nations guilty of ‘double standards’ by criticising mass arrests
- Safeguarding national security through legislation is in line with international practice, spokesman says
- Foreign ministers of US, Canada, Britain and Australia issued joint statement condemning last week’s crackdown on more than 50 opposition activists
In response to a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia, a government spokesman said the security law applied to every person in the city and no one was above the law.
“We are appalled by remarks made by some overseas government officials that seemed to suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions,” he said.
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Arrests were made based on evidence and in strict accordance with the laws, he added.
The office of Beijing’s foreign ministry commissioner in Hong Kong also expressed “strong condemnation and resolute opposition” to the joint statement, saying it defied international laws and basic norms of global relations and was a brazen interference in Hong Kong affairs and Chinese domestic affairs.
The office also accused some Western politicians of smearing the national security law, while disregarding the fact their countries enjoyed “airtight” national security legislation. “It is a typical double standard,” a spokesman said.
“[The West’s reactions] have shown clear that the Hong Kong national security law has plugged the loopholes that could be abused by foreign forces to collude with anti-China elements to harm Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.”