Beijing accuses UK of ‘repeating old tricks’ over report slamming Hong Kong’s national security laws

Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong condemns UK report, accuses Britain of smearing ‘one country, two systems’ and national security legal framework

‘White noise that smears and disparages Hong Kong cannot shake the steadfast steps of one country, two systems going far and stable into the future,’ office says

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Beijing’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has accused the UK of harbouring “old colonial dreams”. Photo: Warton Li

Published: 1:27pm, 16 Apr 2024Updated: 4:08pm, 16 Apr 2024

Beijing has hit out at Britain for “repeating old tricks” with its criticisms of Hong Kong’s national security laws in a recent parliamentary report, stressing the city will prosper despite such efforts.

The commissioner’s office of China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong on Monday night condemned the report on the city from the UK government, accusing it of smearing the “one country, two systems” governing principle and the national security legal framework.

“Regarding the British government issuing another so-called ‘six-monthly report on Hong Kong’, they are repeating old tricks to make a fuss about the Sino-British Joint Declaration’, a spokesman for the office wrote in a statement.

“White noise that smears and disparages Hong Kong cannot shake the steadfast steps of one country, two systems going far and stable into the future. The new vehicle of Hong Kong in this new era must speed ahead, and no obstruction will be tolerated!”

The Hong Kong government earlier slammed the report after United Kingdom authorities argued the city’s Beijing-imposed national security law had resulted in most local political opposition being “eliminated”.

The parliamentary report said dissent in the city had been “criminalised” and civil society had become “marginalised”.

“Hong Kong authorities’ efforts to stamp out ‘soft resistance’ has targeted even the most minor deviations from unwavering support for the governments of Hong Kong and China,” UK foreign secretary David Cameron wrote in the report.