The Hong Kong government has strongly condemned the latest report by the British government on the state of affairs in the city, accusing London of political interference and attempts to undermine its stability. In a sharply worded statement released on Monday night, Hong Kong authorities rebuked the British government for what they called “slander and smears” against the city, following the release of the UK’s six-monthly report on Hong Kong.
The British report, presented by Foreign Secretary David Cameron, claimed that under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, almost all political opposition in Hong Kong had been “eliminated.” Cameron further criticized the crackdown on dissent, claiming that civil society had been marginalized under the law, which he described as an attempt to stamp out even “soft resistance” against the governments of Hong Kong and China.
In its response, the Hong Kong government dismissed the report as a political attack, stating that the UK was once again resorting to old tactics of “ignoring facts, making fallacies, putting politics above the rule of law, and confusing right and wrong.” The statement also emphasized that Hong Kong’s affairs were “entirely China’s internal affairs” and accused the UK of meddling in its sovereignty.
“The UK’s attempt to undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong is doomed to fail,” the Hong Kong government said in its statement.
UK Criticism of the National Security Law
The UK Foreign Office has published six-monthly reports on Hong Kong since 1997, in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the agreement that paved the way for Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. These reports aim to monitor the implementation of the “one country, two systems” framework, under which Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy.
Cameron’s report, the first since he became foreign secretary in November 2023, covered the period between July and December last year. In it, he described the impact of the national security law, which was introduced by Beijing in June 2020 following months of anti-government protests. The law prohibits acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, with penalties as severe as life imprisonment.
Cameron expressed concern that Hong Kong authorities had extended the enforcement of the national security law beyond its borders by issuing arrest warrants and HK$1 million bounties for 13 opposition figures living overseas, most of them in Britain. He reassured Hongkongers residing in the UK that they were safe from these measures and vowed that Britain would not allow foreign powers to harass or harm individuals within its borders.
“We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass, or harm individuals in the United Kingdom,” Cameron said, adding that London would continue to stand by those affected by the law.
Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
The Hong Kong government’s response to the report reflects growing tensions between the UK and China over Hong Kong’s political future. Since the implementation of the national security law, many pro-democracy figures have been jailed, exiled, or forced into silence. Western governments, including the UK and the US, have repeatedly criticized China’s tightening control over the city, while Beijing insists that the law is necessary to restore order and maintain national security.
Critics, however, argue that the law has effectively dismantled the political freedoms that were supposed to be protected under the “one country, two systems” model. The UK’s six-monthly reports are a key platform for highlighting these concerns, but they have also become a flashpoint for diplomatic rows with China.
The Path Forward
While the British government continues to voice its concerns over the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government shows no sign of backing down. In its statement, it reiterated its commitment to upholding the national security law, framing its actions as essential for safeguarding the city’s stability and prosperity.
As diplomatic tensions rise, the situation for Hongkongers both in the city and abroad remains fraught, with the national security law continuing to cast a long shadow over the region’s political landscape.