The head of China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has said that no diplomats accompanying him on a trip to Hainan island raised objections to the city’s dual national security laws, stressing such protections are “the norm” everywhere.
Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, made the remarks on Friday after wrapping up his five-day trip in Hainan joined by 50 people including diplomats and leaders of foreign business chambers.
“None of the consuls general, no matter if they are from developed or developing countries, have said ‘you are wrong’ about our national security laws, as this is the norm or convention for every country,” he said.
Cui said while some foreign legislators and politicians had little understanding of China, they should not object to the national security laws and make uninformed comments.
“The Chinese people will not accept this,” he said.
Hong Kong passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in March, mandated under Article 23 of the city’s Basic Law mini-constitution.
The ordinance covers 39 offences divided into five categories: treason; insurrection, incitement to mutiny and disaffection, and acts with seditious intention; sabotage; external interference; and theft of state secrets and espionage.
Australia, alongside countries such as the United States, Britain and Canada, had said they were concerned about the law’s implications for human rights and its impact on the city’s high degree of autonomy.
Cui also expressed confidence that Beijing would cooperate well with the British government led by the Labour Party following its historic victory earlier this month which ended the 14-year rule of the Conservatives.
“I want to tell you that I am very confident in cooperating well with the new government,” Cui said, noting Beijing believed relations would change between Hong Kong and the UK under the new administration.
According to the commissioner’s office, the five-day trip was joined by diplomats, leaders of foreign chambers, management of multinational companies, as well as members of the media.
Those taking part in the trip included Australian Consul General Gareth Williams, German Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong president Johannes Hack and Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por.
Cui said the trip would allow members to understand the measures to open up Hainan, as well as explore new opportunities for cooperation.
“Hong Kong is a unique special administrative region and in Hainan also we have a free trade port,” he said, adding it was a chance for the delegates to get to know each other.
Cui added the trip showed it was important for mainland China to work with Hong Kong and capitalise on the unique advantages of the city as a superconnector and a super value-adder.
