Foreign forces must stop making waves in Hong Kong

Note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language "Commentaries on International Affairs".

Residents rally to voice their strong opposition to violence and firm support for police in Hong Kong, on July 20, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Some politicians in the United States and Britain have repeatedly called for the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to respect freedom of speech and assembly, and that the right to autonomy of Hong Kong should be protected. At the same time, these same politicians have willingly turned a blind eye to incidents of illegality and violence in Hong Kong, which is why Beijing has called them to stop ignoring the facts and to stop supporting the anti-China elements causing disorder in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong operates under the rule of law. Its Basic Law guarantees that the residents shall have the freedoms of speech, assembly, procession, and demonstration. The law does not, however, give anyone in Hong Kong the right to commit acts of vandalism or violence while they exercise these rights.

Some radical demonstrators recently stormed and vandalized the Hong Kong Legislative Council building, attacked and injured police, and besieged the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government of China in Hong Kong and defaced the national emblem. These actions go far beyond the bounds of freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration. They blatantly challenge the rule of law and the authority of the national government, something that would never be tolerated by any sovereign country.

Western countries, and especially Britain, have no right to lecture about freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong. Did Hong Kong residents have the right to autonomy under British colonial rule? At that time, Hong Kong was administered by governors directly appointed by the British government. It’s no wonder that British scholar Martin Jacques has said that under British colonial rule, “there was never a semblance of democracy” in Hong Kong.

Over the past 22 years since Hong Kong returned to China, the government in Beijing has guaranteed the territory a high degree of autonomy, and conscientiously implemented the principles of “one country, two systems” and “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong”. This arrangement has provided Hong Kong with stability and prosperity.

China’s central government rightfully exercises overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong, and this cannot be cast aside with the excuse that Hong Kong has “a high degree of autonomy”. Some politicians in the United States and Britain have called into question the legitimacy of the central government’s jurisdiction over Hong Kong, claiming that Beijing is interfering in Hong Kong’s autonomy. This ignores the fact that Hong Kong’s affairs are China’s internal affairs, and is a blatant attempt at foreign interference.

On July 20, more than 300,000 people in Hong Kong took part in a peaceful assembly, asking for the rule of law to be upheld and unity to be restored in Hong Kong. They are taking a stand against extremism and violence, and it would be in the best interests of all the people of Hong Kong if the politicians in the United States and Britain did the same.