Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Photo: VCG

China voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Tuesday to the latest "sanctions" imposed by the US on six individuals over Hong Kong affairs, calling its newly released so-called Hong Kong Policy Act report "filled with lies and fallacies" and constituted a serious interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. China will take resolute countermeasures in response to the US's actions, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Responding to a media inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun slammed the report and accused the US of smearing the One Country, Two Systems principle, attacking the National Security Law for Hong Kong and Safeguarding the National Security Ordinance, and slandering Hong Kong's democracy, rule of law, freedoms, and human rights situation. 

The spokesperson also accused the US of interfering in Hong Kong's national security cases and imposing illegal unilateral sanctions on officials from China's central government offices in Hong Kong and the HKSAR government. 

Such despicable actions constitute a serious interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, a blatant violation of international law and basic norms of international relations, and fully expose the US's ulterior motive of undermining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability while seeking to curb China's development. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, and strongly condemns the US actions, the spokesperson said. 

The US State Department published the latest "Hong Kong Policy Act" report on Monday local time and sanctioned the six individuals under the excuse of "erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy." 

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Chinese government has fully, accurately, and unwaveringly implemented the principles of One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong residents administering Hong Kong, and a high degree of autonomy, Guo said. 

The spokesperson also noted that the enactment and implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance are aimed at improving Hong Kong's legal framework for safeguarding national security while better protecting the legitimate rights and freedoms of its residents. 

These measures, Guo said, ensure the steady and lasting implementation of One Country, Two Systems and reflect the collective will of the entire Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots. 

The law enforcement actions against anti-China elements who have fled abroad, as well as the independent and fair adjudication of national security cases by Hong Kong's judiciary, are in full accordance with international law and global practices, leaving no room for US interference, the spokesperson continued. 

Guo further accused the US of hypocrisy, pointing out that while Washington continuously overstretches and abuses the concept of "national security" to impose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, it simultaneously attacks efforts of Chinese central government and HKSAR government to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, revealing the US' hypocritical double standards and hegemonic behavior.

The spokesperson reiterated that Hong Kong belongs to China, and its affairs are purely China's internal matters. He reaffirmed that the Chinese government remains resolute in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, in upholding the One Country, Two Systems principle, and in resisting any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs. 

Guo urged the US to abide by international law and the basic norms of international relations and to cease all interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal matters, emphasizing that China will take resolute countermeasures in response to the US's wrong actions.