China slams Britain over disrupt Hong Kong assessment report

A six-month assessment by Britain on the financial centre was criticised by China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong, which claimed that it neglected “good” sociological circumstances and a more stable corporate environment in favour of supporting “anti China” instability.

The remarks were made following the publication by Britain of its six-monthly assessment on the Chinese-controlled hub, covering the period from January 1 to June 30, which noted that authorities had expanded the implementation of a national security statute enforced by Beijing “beyond genuine national security concerns.”

After the city was rocked by sometimes violent anti-government rallies in 2019, Beijing implemented the broad regulation in 2020.

Although the rules have drawn criticism from certain Western governments for restricting social and political liberties in the city, Chinese and Hong Kong officials have defended them as essential to reestablishing security.

The technique of “one country, two systems” has been “universally successful” in Hong Kong, which returned to China from Britain in 1997, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

“In recent years the number of people in the UK living in poverty has been increasing…crime rates have hit record highs. What confidence does it have to criticise Hong Kong’s democracy and human rights situation?” the ministry said.

“Plans to disrupt Hong Kong are doomed to fail.”

The British newspaper said that while media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s national security trial has been further postponed, authorities are still attempting to use legal means to stifle the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong.”

“The UK will always defend universal human rights, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly and we will stand up for those who are targeted,” it said.

Britain stated that Lai’s indictment is “highly politicised” and that the government was still pushing for consular access.

The UK will not accept attempts to intimidate and suppress people in its country, the statement continued, adding that Hong Kong police had also issued arrest warrants and bounties against people in the UK and overseas.

The research noted that Hong Kong’s legal and judicial systems are at a crossroads and that, even if the city’s courts are still independent, they must “judge on an opaque national security law that places the Chief Executive’s authority on security matters above that of their own.”

(With agency inputs)