The 22 governments issued a joint statement accusing Hong Kong of suppressing press freedom. The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on February 8, saying that the historical trend of Hong Kong's transformation from chaos to governance, from governance to prosperity is irreversible.
The governments of 22 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and Germany, issued a joint statement in the name of member states of the Media Freedom Coalition, expressing deep concern over the suppression of independent media in Hong Kong.
According to the British government's February 7 release, the joint statement mentioned the recent raids by Hong Kong authorities of the "Stand News" office and the arrest of its employees, and the subsequent self-closing of "Zhongxin News" due to concerns for the safety of its employees.
On December 29, 2021, police officers seized items from the Stand News office and placed them in light blue plastic boxes.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
The joint statement said that since the promulgation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in June 2020, the relevant authorities have been targeting and suppressing independent media in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which has undermined the protected rights and freedoms under the Hong Kong Basic Law and China's "China-UK" policy. obligations under the Joint Declaration.
This has also resulted in the near extinction of local independent media in Hong Kong, the joint statement said. These ongoing actions suppress human rights, freedom of expression, free movement and the exchange of views and information, further undermining confidence in Hong Kong's international reputation.
According to the British side, the countries that signed the statement include: Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia , Switzerland, UK and US.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong responded on February 8 that the historical trend of Hong Kong's transformation from chaos to governance and from governance to prosperity is irreversible (screenshot of the website)
The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on February 8, pointing out that the historical trend of Hong Kong's transformation from chaos to governance and prosperity is irreversible, and any interference in the name of "press freedom" will put pressure on it Zhishi's plans are beyond their own means and doomed to failure.
The spokesman said that the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Hong Kong National Security Law clearly guarantee the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, including freedom of speech and the press.
Since the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Hong Kong society has regained stability and development has returned to the right track. Press freedom has been better guaranteed in a safe, stable and rule of law environment, and the number of international media and journalists in Hong Kong has increased instead of declining.
The spokesman criticized that some external forces, including the "Media Freedom Alliance", turned a blind eye to the current good situation in the Hong Kong SAR, and turned a deaf ear to the objective facts that Hong Kong's media is developed and information is smooth. Interfering with the rule of law in the SAR, supporting the anti-China chaotic elements in Hong Kong, fully exposed their sinister intentions to fear that Hong Kong will not be chaotic.
The spokesperson pointed out that the members of the so-called "Coalition for Media Freedom" themselves are not honor students of press freedom, and some have forcibly shut down news websites. Taking the United States as an example, at least 117 journalists have been arrested or detained in 2020.
With such bad deeds, what qualifications are there to show the face of "Master Teacher" to point fingers and make nonsense about Hong Kong, China?
The spokesperson reiterated that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. China urges relevant countries and organizations to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs under any pretext.
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