HONG KONG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The passage of a Hong Kong-related bill by the U.S. Senate has drawn strong opposition from the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the HKSAR government and leaders of major political organizations in Hong Kong.
Stressing that U.S. politicians have no right to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs, the commissioner's office said in a statement that the passage of the legislation is a crude interference in China's internal affairs and has severely trampled upon international law and basic norms governing international relations.
Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has been proven to be a universally recognized success, it said, noting that human rights of the Hong Kong people have been well protected and democracy in Hong Kong is constantly developing.
The issue of Hong Kong has never been an issue of human rights and democracy, and it is rather about anti-China forces attempting to subvert a legitimate government with violence and undermine the "one country, two systems" principle, the statement said.
The statement stressed that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and China is determined to protect its sovereignty, security, development interests and the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle, as well as to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs.
The commissioner's office urged the United States to stop its wrongdoing before it is too late, emphasizing that China will have to take strong countermeasures if Washington insists on making the wrong decisions.
"The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the other act on Hong Kong are unnecessary and unwarranted. They will also harm the relations and common interests between Hong Kong and the United States," a spokesman for the HKSAR government said in a statement.
The spokesman also reiterated that foreign legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.
He pointed out that the HKSAR has been exercising "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the Basic Law of the HKSAR of China, adding that the "one country, two systems" principle has been fully and successfully implemented.
"'One country, two systems' is the best arrangement for maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and for making Hong Kong a favourable place to live and work in," he stressed, adding the HKSAR government will continue to implement the "one country, two systems" principle resolutely in accordance with the Basic Law.
Leaders of major political organizations in Hong Kong also said the passage of the Hong Kong-related bill was an interference in China's internal affairs and encouragement to rioters.
Chan Yung, vice-chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and a deputy to the National People's Congress, said that the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 showed a continuation and extension of U.S. hegemony, which could only make rioters increasingly rampant and put the lives and property of more than 7 million Hong Kong people under more threat.
Ng Chau-pei, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said it was shameful for the United States, a self-claimed democratic country ruled by law, to shield violence, fugitives and other unlawful acts with its so-called act.
"Apparently certain politicians in the U.S. only make excuses to interfere in Hong Kong affairs, in a bid to mess up Hong Kong and to thwart China's development," he said.
Ip Lau Suk-yee, a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council and chairwoman of the New People's Party, noted that the problem now in Hong Kong is that some rioters infringed on the rights and freedom of the majority, so that ordinary civilians could not live a normal life, even lost their jobs and were attacked because of their different views.
Chung Kwok-pan, leader of the Liberal Party, said that "the United States should think about its huge business interest in Hong Kong."
Hong Kong's economic achievements proved the success of China's policies, said Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong.
