Hong Kong government rejects UK report on national security laws

The Hong Kong government has issued a strong condemnation of the United Kingdom’s latest six-monthly report on the city, labeling the document as containing “untruthful remarks, slanders and smears.” The Hong Kong authorities rejected the UK’s right to supervise or interfere in the city’s affairs, asserting that Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China and that its national security matters are purely internal affairs.

The dispute follows a report by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, which expressed concern over the “expanding scope and application” of national security legislation in Hong Kong. Miliband noted that the Beijing-imposed National Security Law has impacted freedoms of expression, assembly, and the press, specifically citing the 20-year prison sentence of media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

In response, Hong Kong officials argued that the UK maintains its own extensive national security laws and criticized British law enforcement for recent arrests of journalists. The government also defended its judicial independence, stating that high-profile cases, including those involving Jimmy Lai and the Hong Kong Alliance, are handled according to the law based on evidence rather than political affiliation.