HKSAR GOV'T CONDEMNS TAIWAN FOR SMEARING HONG KONG'S NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS

HONG KONG, June 28 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday strongly condemned and opposed Taiwan authorities' political manoeuvring, smearing Hong Kong's national security laws, reported Xinhua.

By raising the so-called travel alert status, Taiwan authorities made a smearing statement that the risks of travelling to Hong Kong had increased after the implementation of the national security law and the safeguarding national security ordinance, said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government.

The spokesperson said that it is the constitutional duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security. In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states.

The spokesperson added that the legal framework for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is fully in compliance with the international standard for the protection of human rights.

The offences endangering national security stipulated by the national security law and the safeguarding national security ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity.

"Ordinary travellers (including travellers from China's Taiwan region) will not engage in acts and activities endangering our national security and will not unwittingly violate the law," the spokesperson said.

"The offences endangering national security only target an extremely small minority of people who endanger national security and the safety of Hong Kong. Safeguarding national security is fundamentally consistent with the respect for and protection of human rights," the spokesperson reiterated, urging Taiwan authorities to stop smearing Hong Kong's national security laws.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA