China deplores Hong Kong-related comments from UK, others

China on Monday deplored the comments made by foreign ministers of the UK, the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand on the Legislative Council (LegCo) election in its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs of the UK issued a joint statement with the U.S. secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, expressing "grave concern" over the election results and making irresponsible comments on China's measures to improve the electoral system in the HKSAR.

"The irresponsible comments, distortion of facts and malicious discrediting of the election made by the UK foreign secretary in collusion with the foreign ministers of the other four countries gravely interfered in China's internal affairs and violated the basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side expresses firm opposition and strong condemnation," the Chinese Embassy in the UK said in a statement. 

As the first LegCo election following the improvement of the electoral system, the December 19 election in the HKSAR was "smooth, fair and just," which ended the "chaos and the viciously antagonistic and divisive campaigns that had plagued previous elections for years," it said.

This election displayed a "rational and constructive culture" and was held with "extensive representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition," it said. 

The statement called the election a "successful model of quality and true democracy," saying it bears important and far-reaching significance to developing a democratic path that suits the real conditions of the HKSAR.

"It must be pointed out that Hong Kong residents today enjoy far more rights and freedoms than under the British colonial rule," the statement read. 

It reiterated that the core content of the Sino-British Joint Declaration pertains to China resuming sovereignty over Hong Kong. "It does not give the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong after the handover, nor does the UK has sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong."  

The Chinese government governs the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, not the Joint Declaration, the statement stressed, adding no foreign country has the right to use the Joint Declaration as an excuse to interfere in the HKSAR affairs. 

Noting the Chinese government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests and oppose any external interference, it warned that attempts to create trouble in the HKSAR or use it to contain China will never succeed. 

China strongly urges the handful of countries, including the UK, to "take off their mask of hypocrisy," recognize the reality and major trend, respect China's sovereignty and unity, and stop any form of interference in the HKSAR affairs, which are China's internal affairs, the statement added.